Udupi, Sept.1: Udupi city municipal that holds historical importance has no Muslim candidate in upcoming local body election.
The three major political parties haven't named a single Muslim candidate in any ward.
Udupi which has taluk board in 1935 had philanthropist Haji Abdullah Udupi as its president. Even today during city municipal general meetings, municipal president sit on the chair that was once used by Haji Abdullah. His chair is of historical importance.
There are 35 wards in Udupi city municipal. Both congress and BJP has fielded their candidates in all these wards. JDS has nominated candidates for nine wards. But there is not a single Muslim candidate.
Congress has nominated six Christian candidates. Harmis Noronha (Moodabettu), Babita Kola (Malpe Central), Selina Karkada (Muduperampalli), Irine Menezes (Gopalapur), Ranold Pravin Kumar (Ambalpady) and Hilary Jathanna (Indiranagar).
Indiranagar, Karamballi and Vadabhandeshwara wards have the highest Muslim population. But congress has opted to Shekhar Kotian in Vadabhandeshwara (reserved-general) and Yadava Karkera in Karamballi (backward class A). Though the party had the opportunity to field Muslim candidates here, it didn't find a winning candidate from the community.
Even JDS has not fielded a single Muslim candidate. Earlier, JDS had said that it will give ticket to Arif Karamballi in Gundibail ward. But Arif had clearly said that he is a BJP worker and will not fight election under JDS flag. BJP has given ticket to Edwin Karkada in Malpe central. There is no Muslim candidate from BJP too.
Congress had not given ticket to single Muslim candidate even in 2014 Udupi city municipal election. 22 congress candidates emerged victorious in the election and for the first time the party had grabbed the power in Udupi.
As there was Congress government in the state during that time Hasan Ajjarkad was nominated as the member of Udupi city municipal.
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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.
