Orissa wants KBC apology for wrong info..

BHUBANESWAR: The Orissa government on Saturday lodged a strong protest with a private TV channel for "disseminating wrong information" about saint-poet Jayadev through its popular game show Kaun Banega Crorepati-III .

In the game show's April 16 episode, anchor and Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan mentioned that Jayadev, who composed "Geeta Gobinda", worked in the court of Bengal ruler Laxman Sen.

This has not gone down well with several culture-conscious people of the state, as researchers have, after a long debate, accepted that Jayadev was born at Kenduli village in Puri district. They said the poet, in the mediaeval times, had dedicated his life composing and singing hymns in praise of Jagannath.

The state government, in a letter to the producers of KBC-III, said the description of Jay-adev as a court-poet of Laxman Sen has "hurt the sentiments of the people in Orissa" because he (Jayadev) had never worked in any court.

"Such utterances by Shahrukh are unacceptable. The team of KBC should do proper research before placing any historical fact because the gameshow is very popular and can mislead a complete generation," said culture minister S N Patro. "Historians and researchers have proved that Jayadev was born at Kenduli village. Though he wrote in Sanskrit, he was a pure Oriya and never served in any court," Patro added.

"We want the channel to beam the fact in its next episode and also tender an apology," he said. The government's letter came a day after celebrations of birth anniversary of the legendary poet.