CPI(M) slams FIR against Munir Katipalla, Abdussalam Puthige, calls it anti-democratic
Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada District Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has strongly condemned the filing of an FIR against its district secretary Munir Katipalla and Vartha Bharati Editor-in-Chief Abdussalam Puthige, calling it an act of "desperation" and "anti-democratic behavior."
In a press statement issued on Monday, the CPI(M) accused the Puttur unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and its secretary Dr. Ganesh Prasad Mudraje of targeting Munir Katipalla over his persistent criticism of private hospitals and his role in exposing the alleged communal role of certain doctors in the Puttur Government Hospital incident.
The FIR was reportedly filed through a court directive by the Puttur Medical Association, which the CPI(M) claims is politically motivated and intended to silence dissenting voices. The party alleged that some office bearers of the association have communal inclinations, and the move to file a complaint is an attempt to divert attention from the larger issues affecting the public health sector in the region.
“This is a private complaint aimed at damaging the dignity of the medical profession,” the CPI(M) said. It further stated that false allegations are being made to suppress those speaking up against the corporatization of healthcare and the alleged communalization of medical spaces.
The party said it will launch a legal battle and a public protest movement against the FIR. It also announced plans to hold condemnation meetings in association with like-minded groups and to file a detailed petition with documents to the party's Central Committee, demanding that action be taken to seek the cancellation of the medical registration of the Puttur and Mangaluru branches of the association.
The CPI(M) also criticised the silence of the Doctors' Association on pressing issues such as corporate control over the health sector and the rising cost of treatment. According to the statement, the association has failed to speak up for the common people but is now targeting individuals raising their voice for justice.
“The misuse of the regulations to shield vested interests is unacceptable and will be strongly opposed,” the party said. It called the recent press releases from the Puttur and Mangaluru branches of the association oppressive and dictatorial in tone, accusing them of trying to intimidate the public through goon-style tactics.
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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.
