From today's Hindustan Times dated 31 March, 2009.
The caption for this PTI photo reads:
A poster of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein pasted on a campaign vehicle of Saddam Hussain* - CPI(M) candidate from Malapuram in north Kerala, a Muslim-dominated seat.Interestingly, Malappuram district also has a Saddam beach which got its name during the Gulf War.
The story of the Saddam beach according to The Hindu (31/12/2008):
When the beach got its name (Saddam) during the first Gulf War, there were hardly three-dozen families there. The name of the beach has got into official records.-0-
“It was a clash between two Sunni factions on the beach that earned the beach its name,” said V. Abdul Khader, another resident. “Initially, it had a negative tone. It later transformed into a positive image of resistance against U.S. aggression.”
Update:
The name of the candidate is actually T.K. Hamsa. He was "mistakenly" captioned as Saddam Hussain by the leading Newspapers of the country. (check the comment made by Nikhil )
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Previously on Saddam: Saddam Brand Fireworks
Hi
I am not sure which dodo created this news item.Read the same in TOI too.
The candidate's name is Advocate TK Hamsa and not Saddam Hussein.
Someone has fooled these papers.
-Nikhil
Thanks for the info. Nikhil!
The guy in the photograph is certainly candidate TK Hamsa. [updating the post now]
The source of the gaffe seems to be PTI. Caption for that 'ptoto' at PTI website read:
"B-65, MALAPPURAM-300301, MARCH 30, 2009: Malappuram: Former Iraq President the late Saddam Hussain's poster is glued along with CPI(M)'s Malappuram candidate Saddam Hussain (R), during an election campaign in Malappuram on Monday. PTI Ptoto *** Local Caption ***"
I guess 'Local Caption' in a journalistic code for 'Use at your own Risk and Pray nobody Notices'.
TOI could have made a front page 1st April special item out of this pic. What a waste!
Vinayak,
Thanks for the input on *Local Caption* funda.
The same photograph came in Malayala Manorama on 30th March with the candidate's correct name.Only a vernacular daily could figure the *Local Caption*
-Nikhil
Little things like these can sometime really get on one's nerve. Just the other day a news piece in HT was printed under the title "Woman from Valley ‘beaten’ for marrying against family’s wishes". I read it and realized the muslim woman was from a place called Nagrota...a place that I know is only half an hours drive from Jammu and has nothing - geographically or ethnically- to do with the 'Valley'. The misleading title was probably chosen just because it would get more eyeballs. There a good chance people in the Valley blamed the "local sources" in Jammu for this stupid title and claimed it as a proof of deliberate attempts being made to defame Kashmiri people.