Mahatma Gandhi guiding light to eradicate poverty: Kovind
New Delhi, Oct 1 : In his message on the eve of Gandhi Jayanti, President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday said Mahatma Gandhi will be the guiding light in India's pursuit to eradicate poverty and achieve rapid social and economic progress.
He said it would be "only befitting" to celebrate this year's Jayanti with welfare programmes pertinent to the life and work of Gandhi, said a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement.
"The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is a true tribute to Gandhiji, who espoused cleanliness as an essential element of healthy living," Kovind said.
"This Gandhi Jayanti let us all resolve to make our homes, residential areas, cities, villages and our country clean and to spread the message of total sanitation. Mahatma Gandhiji's message remains relevant for all Indians and indeed for all humanity."
This year is even more special since it marks the beginning of the celebration of 150 years of the Gandhi's birth, he added.
The President said Gandhi's leadership inspired millions to participate in the struggle for independence.
He said Gandhi Jayanti was an occasion "to rededicate ourselves" to the values espoused by the Father of the Nation including peace, harmony and inclusive national development.
"Mahatma Gandhi's values and his life itself had a universal appeal, making him an ideal not just for Indians but for the entire world," he said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
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.
