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With 'proof', Joshi refutes charges of insulting Majrooh Sultanpuri

Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi today asked Urdu poet ajrooh Sultanpuri to withdraw an allegation that he, Joshi, had insulted the poet.

Addresing a press conference in his Vidhan Bhavan chamber where he showed a video cassette of the 1995 function, he said Sultanpuri's allegations was false and based on a misunderstanding.

The chief minister said he was clarifying the position by showing the video cassette to reporters because the Urdu poet stood by his allegation and had boycotted the Urdu Academy's award.

Joshi also made a cryptic remark that it was necessary to find out those who were instigating Sultanpuri.

The chief minister said the video disproved Sultanpuri's charge that he gave him an award when he was seated. It showed Sultanpuri receiving the award in the same manner as did other artistes, including Sudhir Phadke, Ramesh Deo, Seema Deo, Asha Parekh and Khayyam.

The Maharashtra Urdu Academy announced its 1995-96 award to Sultanpuri for his contribution to the promotion of Urdu and it was to be presented by the chief minister at a function in Nagpur today. But Sultanpuri boycotted the award, claiming he was humiliated by Joshi at the function organised in Asha Bhosle's honour.

Press reports had quoted Sultanpuri as saying that while Joshi called other awardees to the stage and gave out the awards while standing, the chief minister did not get up from his seat in his case.

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