Chennai, Jan 3 (IANS) An out-of-frame deputy chief minister had the local media shouting for him as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and others waited at the award ceremony during the inaugural session of the 98th Indian Science Congress (ISC) here Monday.
When the prime minister began presenting the awards for eminent scientists at the SRM University campus, the local media missed someone in the frame for the photo – Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.
Photographers began shouting for Stalin, who was also sitting on the dias, to come close to Manmohan Singh so that they get him in the frame.
The prime minister and the other delegates waited in silence for the DMK leader to join them.
Stalin did not leave the frame thereafter.
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Sen misses awards ceremony
Nobel laureate Amartya Sen could not make it to the awards ceremony at the Indian Science Congress Monday morning.
As the name of Sen, who won the Nobel for economics in 1998, was announced here, there was nobody to collect the award.
According to organisers, Sen could not make it to the inaugural session and was expected later.
Six Nobel laureates, including V. Ramakrishnan, the 2009 Nobel winner in chemistry, are among the leading scientists taking part in the prestigious event this year.
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Media threatens walk-out
The arrangements for media at the Indian Science Congress did not impress many journalists and some of them even threatened to walk out of the event.
‘There are no computer terminals, no food or water. Worse, there is nobody there to help you,’ said a scribe from a Hindi daily.
The authorities immediately swung into action following the walk-out call and the scribes’ complaints were attended to.
