Global Integrity Award not approved by the British Parliament
Members of Kannada community living in the UK made an RTI request to the House of Commons to clarify the Global Diversity/Integrity award confusion in the India/UK.
The British House of Commons has now officially confirmed that there is no relationship between UK-British Chamber of commerce headed by Manjunath Vishwa Karma & Sujit Nair and The British Parliament.
The Information Commissioner for the House of Commons Lauren Puckey has also confirmed (See mail below) that the speaker of the Parliament John Bercow has not approved the Global Integrity award given to Darshan in one of the banquet halls of the British Parliament.
Kannada film star Darshan was presented an award at a private ceremony in the House of Commons on 19th October 2017. Unlike The Indian Parliament, The Banquet halls of British Parliament are available to the General public for private hire.
Contrary to the perception that was held by many of Darshan’s fans, he was awarded a global integrity award not global diversity award by British Parliament. A private company called UK-Business chamber limited and MP Virendra Sharma have presented this in their personal capacity.
There was widespread speculation in the media that the Kannada star Darshan was given the prestigious Global Diversity Award similar to Bollywood stars Amitab Bachan, Shah Rukh Khan & Salman Khan which turned out to be false.
RTI request to the House of Commons
From: FOI Commons <FOICOMMONS@parliament.uk>
Sent: 01 November 2017 14:21
To:
Subject: F17-421 Response
Dear Sir,
Freedom of Information Request F17-421
Thank you for your request for information and amendment as copied below. With reference to a report in the Indian media that a “Kannada Film Summit 2017” was held in one of the banquet halls hired by Virendra Sharma MP for Southall on the evening of 19th October 2017, you have asked questions which we have sought to answer below…
Please note that the two Houses that make up Parliament – the House of Lords and the House of Commons – are two separate public authorities in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). The responses below are for the House of Commons only, so you may wish to contact the House of Lords if you believe they may hold information relevant to your request. Requests for information relating to the House of Lords should be directed to FOILORDS@parliament.uk.
1) What is the relationship between the UK- Karnataka Business Chamber Limited and the British Parliament? How is this company allowed to give awards in the House of Commons?
The House of Commons holds no records of any “relationship” between the UK-Karnataka Business Chamber Limited and the British Parliament. As detailed above, rooms and event spaces are available to be hired by companies and individuals for a range of purposes.
2) Mr Manjunath is the Director of this company and a PSC (Person with significant control) because he owns more than 50% shareholding? Has he got the approval from Speaker of the British Parliament, RT Hon John Bercow, for presenting the award in the premises of the British Parliament?
This information is held by the House of Commons. This person was not pre-approved by the Speaker of the House of Commons.
Yours sincerely,
Lauren
Lauren Puckey | IRIS Officer
Information Rights and Information Security (IRIS) Service | House of Commons
Tel: 0207 219 4025 | Text Relay: 18001 219 4025 | Fifth Floor, 14 Tothill St, London SW1H 9NB
