'Ayodhya nahi, karz maafi': Ramlila Maidan resonates as farmers gather from across India
New Delhi, Nov 29: It was a sea of red at the Ramlila Maidan where thousands of farmers from across the country converged Thursday after journeys that took some as long as 36 hours to complete.
The historic ground, known for hosting big political events over the years, resonated with slogans like 'Ayodhya nahi, karz maafi chahiye' as farmers wearing red caps and carrying red flags started to gather. They will be spending the night at the ground before marching to Parliament on Friday to put forward their demands.
The ground started filling up from about 10.30 am when farmers from Delhi and nearby Haryana and Punjab started pouring in. About 13,000 people have reached the ground and many are still on their way.
The organisers said that while some will sleep in the tents put up on the ground, others will move to nearby gurudwaras.
"The Delhi Jal board will provide us water tanks. AAP local MLAs will give us food packets. Five Gurudwaras in the Delhi region have extended their help to the farmers. Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, Sis Ganj Sahib, Rakabganj, Bap Sahib and Majnu Ka Tila will provide accommodation to farmers for the night," said All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) leader Atul Anjaan.
He added that AAP volunteers have also put up tents at Anand Vihar railway station for those who arrived there and were providing them with snacks and water.
However, majority of the farmers would be staying at Ramlila Maidan, Anjan said.
Students from Delhi University have also reached the ground and were helping out with the arrangements. Activists from outfits like AISA and SFI were seen guiding the farmers to get food and tents, which have names of their states written on them.
Amid the red, some farmers were also seen in other colours. While, those from Tamil Nadu were in green and carrying skulls, some were in yellow.
Among other demands, the farmers want debt relief and remunerative prices for their produce.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
