The ‘Cutting South’ media conclave held in Kochi has come under scrutiny for allegedly receiving foreign funds. Dhanya Rajendran, the editor of News Minute and organizer of the festival, admitted that the session on climate change was sponsored and paid for by the Canadian High Commission. The statement was made to the Bangalore Central Police last month.
Dhanya also denied allegations that the Governor of Goa was not invited to the conference. According to her, the Governor was invited by Cartoonist Sudhirnath and Confluent’s Media employee Joel George at the Ernakulam Govt. Guest house on March 22. A screenshot of the invitation emailed to the Governor on March 18 was also submitted as a document.
The logo of Cutting South was another controversial issue, as it depicted the South separately. Rajendran claimed that “Cutting South” means cutting edge and has no connection to any organization, including the Popular Front.
The festival has sparked concern over its association with separatist movements in the region. The admission of foreign funding has only added to the controversy. The conference has been criticized for promoting divisive ideologies and anti-national sentiments.
The media festival was held from March 19-21 and included sessions on various topics, including climate change, digital media, and regional identity. However, the admission of foreign funding has overshadowed the discussions and raised questions about the intentions of the organizers. The investigation into the matter is ongoing.
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