NAGAPATTINAM  SUNDAY  JANUARY 24, 2021  `8.00  PAGES 24  CITY EDITION LARRY KING, LEGEND OF U.S. TV TALK SHOW, PASSES AWAY AT 87 Staple of US television for decades, King lost his battle with Covid at Cedars-Sinai Med Centre in Los Angeles on Saturday CELEBRITIES, LEADERS JUST A CALL AWAY SANG WITH SINATRA, KISSED BRANDO The Larry King Show ran from 1978 until 1994, winning King a coveted Peabody Award in 1982. He started Larry King Live on CNN in 1985, a show that covered a wide range of topics. In 1995 he presided over a Middle East peace summit. His show featured everyone from Dalai Lama to Elizabeth Taylor, from Mikhail Gorbachev to Barack Obama, Bill Gates to Lady Gaga ■ ■ Frank Sinatra, who rarely gave interviews, appeared in King’s show in 1988 in what would be the singer’s last major TV appearance More elusive than Sinatra was Marlon Brando, but the latter appeared in King’s show in 1994. They hit it off so famously that they ended their talk with a song and an on-the-mouth kiss | P9 50,000 ON-AIR INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED BY KING IN HIS FIVE-DECADE CAREER CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOGGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ WARANGAL ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI DAY OF ROADSHOWS FROM KOLKATA TO KOVAI AS NETAS SHOW CROWDPULLING SKILLS WITH POLL FEVER GOING UP A NOTCH Mamata Banerjee participates in foot march to mark Netaji’s 125th birth anniversary, in Kolkata on Saturday | PTI Strong India following in Netaji footsteps: PM Bitter political fight to appropriate Subhas Chandra Bose’s legacy; Didi cancels speech after slogans of Jai Shri Ram E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Kolkata PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday sought to draw a parallel between Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s vision and his government’s action at an event to mark the legendary freedom fighter’s 125th birth anniversary in Kolkata. Modi said Netaji would have been proud to see that the country has become strong and is following in his footsteps from the Line of Control (LoC) to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with Pakistan and China, respectively . “Netaji had dreamt of a strong India, from LAC to LoC. We are following in his footsteps. Whenever our sovereignty was challenged, we have given a befitting reply he said at ,” a programme held in the Victoria Memorial Hall here. “Netaji wanted to build an Atmanirbhar Bharat. Today, India is heading towards the same goal,” said Modi. The PM’s visit assumed significance ahead of the Assembly polls in West Bengal. Apart from recalling Netaji’s contribution, Modi’s speech projected the Bengal icon as the leading light of India’s Independence whose dreams the present government is trying to realise. He also likened his party’s Sonar Bangla slogan with Netaji’s dream. The ‘Sonar Bangla’ slogan has become a political tool of the BJP to attack Mamata’s “poor” governance. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who also attended the event, was visibly angry as a section of the crowd chanted Jai Shri Ram when her turn came to speak. Announcing her decision not to deliver her address, she said: “I think the government’s programme should have dignity This is not a politi. cal programme.... It (slogan) doesn’t suit you to insult an invitee. In protest, I will not speak anything,’’ Mamata said and returned to her seat on the dais next to Modi. The awkward moment came when the event moderator announced her name as the next Why not four national capitals, asks Mamata E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Kolkata AS West Bengal politics heated up ahead of the makeor-break Assembly elections later this year, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee set the cat among the pigeons on Saturday demanding four separate capitals , in the country with four parliament sessions in these cities on rotation. Speaking at an event to mark Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s 125th birth anniversary hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Kolkata to participate in another Netaji function, Banerjee asked: “The British ruled the entire country from Kolkata. Why should there be only one capital in our country why , not four national capitals in North, South, East and West?” She went on to ask: “Why can’t four parliament sessions be held on a rotational basis?” Earlier, Banerjee took part in a road show stretching 5.5 kms. She inaugurated Netaji’s birthday celebration by blowing conch shells and visited the Netaji Bhavan, the late Indian National Army leader’s home in the city Taking a dig at the Centre’s unilateral deci. sion to mark January 23 as Parakram Diwas (day of valour), Banerjee said: “We celebrate Netaji’s birthday every year, we don’t celebrate it only in the year of elections.” The contrasting moods of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Victoria Memorial Hall event | TWITTER speaker, but some people in the audience chanted Jai Shri Ram and said they would not like to listen to her. Before coming to Victoria Memorial, Modi went to Netaji’s residence and visited his museum. Senior BJP leaders, including Kailash Vijayvargiya and Swapan Dasgupta, wanted to accompany him, but were not allowed by the Netaji Research Bureau. What is Parakram Diwas (day of valour)? How could they unilaterally decide to mark January 23 as Parakram Diwas without consulting the state government? We have called it Desh Nayak Diwas Mamata Banerjee, CM Hosur gold heist cracked, 7 held E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Krishnagiri/Hyderabad A day after the day-light robbery at a finance firm rocked Hosur town in Tamil Nadu, seven people were arrested early on Saturday in a joint effort by the Tamil Nadu and the Telangana police. , The gang was nabbed within a span of 18 hours since the time of crime and 25-kg gold, seven firearms, 97 live rounds, a container, a car and 13 mobile phones were seized from them. Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami tweeted later in the day appreciating the State police for speedy justice. The accused have been identified as Rup Singh Baghal alias B Rup Singh (22), his brother Shankar Singh Baghal (36), J Pavan Kumar Vishkarma (22), J Bhupendhar Majhi (24) and R Vivek Mandal (32), D Teak Ram (55) and P Rajiv Kumar (35). One more accused, Amith alias R Vivek Shukla, is absconding. MORE ON: P5 Gang on the run since Oct 2020 According to sources, the same gang was involved in an attempt to loot another Muthoot Finance branch at Ludhiana, in Punjab in October 2020. Though the bid failed, the suspects fired over 30 rounds, killing a civilian (L) Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and (R) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressing large gatherings in Coimbatore on Saturday | A RAJA CHIDAMBARAM, U RAKESH KUMAR Corruption will soar if DMK wins, says EPS EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Coimbatore “ALL your valuable lands will no longer be yours if the DMK comes back to power. They would all go into the hands of DMK men,” Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami cautioned the public while addressing a massive gathering in Coimbatore on Saturday. Palaniswami is on a two-day election campaign in the city . He said that 13 former DMK ministers are facing corruption charges against them. “Their government also has a history of being dissolved due to corruption. It is, hence, ironic that DMK chief MK Stalin met with the Governor and submitted a report, with baseless allegations against AIADMK ministers,” said the Chief Minister. Solo performance by Rahul Gandhi in Kovai EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE He added that Stalin, in his re@ Coimbatore/Tirupur port, had mentioned that there was misappropriation of `450 THE bustling industrial centres crore in the implementation of of Coimbatore and Tirupur took Tirunelveli-Tenkasi road project. a pause on Saturday to welcome However, in reality, the tender a guest from Delhi — process had been Congress leader Racancelled and a new Batting for hul Gandhi. While tender was yet to be industrialists large crowds gathfloated, Palaniswami ered across these citsaid, adding: “I leave ”Whether in power or ies in rapt attention it to you to judge Stathe Opposition, I will to hear what the leadlin’s honesty .” continue to voice er had to say about The CM also chalentrepreneurial the upcoming Aslenged Stalin to face issues,” Rahul Gandhi sembly elections, him in an open deassured industrialists missing conspicubate on the corrupduring a meeting | P4 ously was the grand tion charges against old party’s dearest the government. Listally in all of South India — the ing out the AIADMK governDMK. ment’s achievements in the past This is in stark contrast to five years, he said that he did not Gandhi’s visit earlier this month indulge in levelling baseless to Madurai to witness a jallikatcharges like Stalin, instead had P4 tu event, when he was accompalet his work do the talking. Nod to tractor rally after R-Day parade H A R P R E E T B A J W A @ Chandigarh IN the end, it seems both sides have had their way. Agitating farmers will hold a tractor rally in Delhi on Republic Day following permission given by Delhi Police. But, budging from their demand that the rally will be held on Outer Ring Road, the farmers are likely to opt out of it. Over one lakh tractors are expected to be part of the rally . Sources said the parade will have five routes over a stretch of more than 100 km. The farmers are likely to take the inner roads of the Capital instead of Outer Ring Road. Delhi Police have agreed to remove barricades from Singhu and Tikri borders to allow the tractors to enter Delhi. The tractor parade is likely to take place after the official Republic Day parade. “In a breakthrough after talks with Police officials of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, farmers leaders were able to finalise routes for the Kisan Republic Day Parade. Preparations are in full swing for disciplined conduct of the rally Response from farm. ers has been tremendous from all over the country,” Samyukt Kisan Morcha said in a statement. The tractors will sport the national flag alongside the banner of respective farmer unions. Tractors with posters proclaiming Kisan Ekta Zindabad, No Farmer, No Food and Kaale Kanoon Radd Karo are on their way to Delhi Yogendra Yadav, Swaraj India After a meeting with the Police officials on the route, president of Swaraj India Yogendra Yadav said: “The farmers and Delhi Police have reached an agreement on the route. Final details are to be worked out.” The tractors will have national flags other than flags of different farmer unions. As for the Delhi Police, they said they are yet to get the full details of the proposed routes of the kisan tractor parade. In a related development, Samyukt Kisan Morcha leaders said they did not discuss the Centre’s proposal to put off the operationalisation of the new farm laws for over two years, as they had already rejected it and conveyed their decision to the Modi government. nied by DMK’s youth wing leader Udhayanidhi Stalin. When asked about the absence of their allies, even to welcome the Gandhi scion in the State, Congress leaders dismissed any friction, saying it was because this event was being organised by itself to display its strength against the BJP, which has been boasting about its strong influence in the Kongu belt. “That apart, alliance partners were not invited because we have a lot of internal issues to discuss,” said a senior Congress leader. None of that, however, detracted Rahul Gandhi from the rally. After launching a tirade against the Centre and the BJP for “ignoring Tamil Nadu and the needs of the Tamils,” he stepped out of his caravan and into a tea shop to interact with P4 the excited public. EXPRESS READ Sasikala’s sister-in-law Ilavarasi tests Covid +ve Bengaluru: Two days after VK Sasikala, one-time confidante of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa tested positive for Covid-19, her sister-in-law and cell mate at Bengaluru prison, J Ilavarasi, has also tested positive for the infection. She is asymptomatic and has been shifted to Victoria Hospital. WITH THIS ISSUE TECH 21 TRENDS FOR THE YEAR PLUS 12 PAGES