Kumbh Mela is personal matter, not of one party: Minister Satish Jarkiholi on Shivakumar’s visit
Udupi: Karnataka Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi has insisted that the Kumbh Mela was a matter of one’s personal devotion, and belief and not related to one single party.
The minister, who was asked by reporters here on Monday about Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's participation in the religious event, clarified that participation was a personal choice and many Congressmen had travelled to Varanasi in a train from Mangaluru to attend the Kumbh Mela. He added that he too would visit after the rush of devotees subsides as he felt that the place was extremely crowded at present.
Jarkiholi, however, refused to comment on the appeal made by Shivakumar, who is also the President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) to leaders of the party to not misuse Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's name. He said that the matter would be taken up with members of the Congress as it was an internal issue of the party, adding that, if any concerns arise, they would be resolved within the party itself.
Further, he refused to comment on Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna hitting out at Shivakumar, asking him not to "misuse" the name of the AICC. Jarkiholi added that it was an issue between Shivakumar and Rajanna and he did not wish to intervene between the two senior Congressmen.
Speaking on Siddaramaiah completing his term as CM, the minister told the reporters that the party High Command would take a decision on the matter.
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Goa nightclub fire: Co-owner Ajay Gupta's police remand extended by four days
Panaji (PTI): A Goa court on Thursday extended by four days the police remand of Ajay Gupta, co-owner of Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, where a devastating fire on December 6 killed 25 persons.
Gupta was arrested from New Delhi on December 10. A court in Mapusa had remanded him in police custody for seven days at the time.
Gupta was presented before the lower court, which sent him to four-day police custody as his initial remand was expiring, his advocate Rohan Desai told reporters.
"Gupta had complained about back pain. The court ordered his medical examination, after which he was allowed use of a mattress in custody. He was examined by a specialised doctor at Goa Medical College and Hospital near here," the lawyer said.
Twenty-five persons, including 20 staff members and five tourists, were killed in the major blaze at the nightclub at Arpora in North Goa around midnight of December 6.
Gupta had, during the day, filed an bail application.
So far, eight persons have been arrested in connection with the case, including Gupta, and two other owners - Gaurav Luthra and his brother Saurabh - who were deported from Thailand.
Five other staffers of the nightclub arrested in the case are Rajiv Modak (Corporate General Manager), Priyanshu Thakur (Gate Manager), Rajveer Singhania (Bar Manager), Vivek Singh (General Manager) and Bharat Karan Singh Kohli (employee).
A Look Out Circular (LOC) has been issued against Surinder Kumar Khosla, another owner of the nightclub who is a British citizen, police said.
