BJP accuses min of providing 'wrong info' to Assembly, takes a swipe at Cong's "dinner politics"
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): The opposition BJP on Friday accused Karnataka minister Laxmi Hebbalkar of providing "wrong information" to the state Assembly, and urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to put end to the ruling Congress' "dinner politics" till the ongoing legislature session ends.
Such "dinner politics," affects ministers' performance, Leader of Opposition R Ashoka claimed. He was apparently referring to the ministers attending "dinner meetings," amid power tussle within the ruling party involving Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar, for the Chief Minister's post.
Taking a dig at the government, he claimed that Congress' dinner politics was not giving time for ministers to prepare themselves before coming to the House, to respond to the issues or questions raised.
"The Assembly is in session, we believe that ministers are capable and come prepared to respond issues or questions raised in the House. When Mahesh Tenginkai (BJP MLA) asked about the Gruha Lakshmi scheme amount for the months of February and March not being credited to the accounts of the beneficiaries, the Minister responded saying that the money was cleared till August," Ashoka said, referring to Laxmi Hebbalkar, who holds the Women and Child Development portfolio.
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When the MLA tried to point out that the money for two months was still not credited, Hebbalkar asserted that it was not the case, Ashoka said, adding that the minister even insisted that the member understand what she was saying, "as though she was saying it to a dumb person."
At this point, CM Siddaramaiah intervened and said that the minister was only saying, "please understand, she did not mean that the person who raised the question was dumb."
Ashoka, pointing out that Tenginkai had put the question to Hebbalkar in the House on December 9, said that the BJP legislator had the next day, sought information from Deputy Director Women and Child Development department, Dharwad, about the February and March installments being credited to beneficiaries.
"The official in the letterhead has responded that Gruha Lakshmi money was not been released to beneficiaries for the months of February and March," Ashoka said, adding that similar responses have come in from officials in Gadag and Haveri districts as well.
Ashoka, accusing Hebbalkar of providing wrong information to the House, said, "How should we believe in the answers or statements made by the ministers in this House. This amounts to disrespecting the House."
Claiming that Ministers attending "dinner politics" has led to the situation, the opposition leader said they leave such meetings by 11 or 12 in the mid night. "The ministers don't get time to prepare or take proper briefings from officers. They come just like that and speak what ever they know here."
"Is there no one to question. The Chair at least should question the ministers. What punishment will the Chair give to the minister for giving wrong answers....there seems to be a confusion in this government. I want to tell the Chief Minister to cut the night dinner meetings at least for 10 days. Let the Home Minister (G Parameshwara) ensure that dinner places are locked, at least the House will function properly then," he said.
The ongoing winter session of the legislature here is scheduled till December 19.
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Demanding authenticity for the answers or statements made by ministers in the House, the LoP asked, "if not, why should we come."
Siddaramaiah assured that Gruha Lakshmi scheme funds for the month of February and March will be credited immediately to the beneficiaries, if it is not already paid.
Responding, BJP MLA Sunil Kumar said that ensuring funds are credited to beneficiaries is one part, "but it also needs to be seen if the minister by giving a wrong answer to the House has committed a breach of privilege."
Congress MLAs Shivalinge Gowda and N H Konareddy objected to Kumar, which led to heated exchange between both the Treasurey and Opposition benches, with both sides accusing each other of "politicising" the issue.
Siddaramaiah, said, "we don't lie. If there is any mistake, it will be rectified."
As Ashoka and other opposition members insisted on action against Hebbalkar for giving wrong information to the House, Speaker U T Khader said he will speak to her to try to find a solution, and ensue that such things don't repeat.
The CM too then said Hebbalkar will issue a clarification on Monday, and it will be ensured that such things don't happen again.
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Bengal fire: Five more burnt body parts found, death exhibits rise to 21; DNA tests underway
Kolkata (PTI): The police on Thursday recovered five more body parts, including partially burnt and skeletal remains, from the site of a massive fire near Kolkata, taking the total number of body exhibits to 21, a senior officer said.
According to him, out of the 21 body parts, 16 have already been sent for DNA testing.
The police have received missing complaints for 27 people, of whom 21 are from Purba Medinipur district.
"We recovered five body parts from the charred remains of the gutted buildings today. So far, 21 body parts, including partially burnt and skeletal remains, have been recovered from the site. The total number of missing persons reports is 27," Baruipur Police District Superintendent Shubhendra Kumar said when contacted.
Earlier, based on inputs from the local Narendrapur police stations, it was reported that 13 more bodies were found at the site, taking the death toll to 21, while 28 others are missing.
"We cannot say now the exact death toll, as what we have recovered are body parts, which may belong to a single or different individuals. This can be confirmed only after the DNA test reports," a police officer said.
The devastating blaze, which broke out on the night of January 26, reduced two godowns and a momo manufacturing unit at Anandapur in South 24 Parganas district, on the outskirts of Kolkata, to ashes.
Of the remains recovered so far, one was a partially burnt body, while the rest were skeletal remains, making identification through conventional means difficult.
Blood samples of family members were collected at Baruipur Hospital on Wednesday to establish the identities of the deceased, in accordance with standard procedure. DNA profiling of the recovered bodies and body parts will be conducted next, the SP said.
"None of the bodies can be identified individually. We have to rely on DNA analysis. All the recovered parts have been sent for DNA mapping," he added.
According to police sources, eyewitnesses have told investigators that a picnic had been organised at the decorator's godown on the night of January 25, with at least 28 people present.
"After dinner, most of the workers went to sleep," they said, adding that the fire broke out thereafter. "We are examining whether the blaze was triggered by a cigarette or similar combustible material," the SP said.
The blaze reduced the warehouses and the manufacturing unit to rubble, leaving behind charred buildings and the bodies of workers.
Meanwhile, the fire services and forensic department have submitted a preliminary report to the police, stating that the blaze had originated not from the momo manufacturing unit, but from an adjoining godown of a decorator, a senior official said.
The report contradicts claims made earlier by the arrested owner of the decorators’ godown, Gangadhar Das, who had alleged that the fire first broke out in the momo factory.
“Based on the examination conducted so far, the fire originated on the third floor of the decorators’ godown and subsequently spread to other parts of the premises, including the momo manufacturing unit,” a senior police officer said, citing the joint report.
According to officials, forensic teams visited the spot soon after the incident and collected multiple samples to determine the cause and point of origin of the blaze.
“The fire spread rapidly from the decorators’ godown to the momo unit,” an official from the fire services said.
The report further noted that the decorators’ godown and the momo unit together spanned nearly 35,000 square feet, of which the momo factory occupied around 8,000 square feet.
The remaining area was allegedly being used by the decorator, officials said.
Police sources said that further forensic examination may be ordered if required.
