May 9: Dr Arathi Krishna, deputy chairperson of the NRI Forum of Karnataka, has been appointed as the first chairperson of the NRI Cell of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).

Dr Arathi Krishna, who received the appointment letter from KPCC president Dr G Parameshwar today, said that the intention behind the formation of the Cell is to publicize the Congress party among NRIs around the world.

While highlighting the initiatives taken by the chief minister Siddaramaiah led Congress government of Karnataka towards the welfare of NRIs from the State, she has urged the NRIs to create awareness among their families back home to vote for the party in the upcoming assembly polls.

Daughter of Begane Ramaiah, a veteran Congress leader and former rural development minister of Karnataka, Dr Arathi Krishna has been associated with the Congress party and NRIs for a prolonged period.

Earlier she had worked as a Community Development Officer in the Indian Embassy in Washington DC, and as an Adviser in the India Development Foundation, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. She also has set up an NGO ‘Krishna Foundation’ to partake in socio-economic needs and provide improved educational facilities in remote villages of Karnataka.

Having Done her Masters in ‘political science’ from Mysore University, another masters degree in ‘international commerce and public’ from George Mason University, Washington, and an honorary doctorate from Kuvempu University.

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Nagpur (PTI): Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday said that shops selling Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) as well as country liquor will be required to obtain mandatory consent from registered housing societies before commencing operations from the commercial spaces on their premises.

Pawar, who also heads the excise department, directed that this new policy be implemented across the state.

"Permission from registered housing societies will now be compulsory for both categories of liquor shops. The policy must be enforced uniformly throughout Maharashtra," Pawar told the Lower House of the state legislature while responding to a question raised by BJP MLA Shankar Jagtap, who represents the Chinchwad assembly constituency in Pune district.

Jagtap sought cancellation of licences of liquor shops operating in Chinchwad-Kalewadi area of Pune.

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During the discussion, he said that Vikrant Wine, a liquor shop in Sahyadri Society, had begun operations in violation of norms.

The building was incomplete when permission was granted, and the licence had been issued on the basis of incomplete documents, Jagtap said, demanding action against those responsible.

Responding to this, Pawar reiterated the mandatory requirement of the respective housing society's consent for liquor outlets, and informed the House about the action taken regarding the two shops against which complaints had been received.

During the Budget session of the state legislature held in March this year, Pawar had announced that a no-objection certificate (NOC) from housing societies will be mandatory for liquor vends if they wish to migrate to their premises.

Many housing societies have commercial establishments, with some even having liquor vends.