Vijayapura, Dec 31: “Before coming to power, the BJP leaders have promised of constructing Ram Mandir in various election rallies. Fulfill those promises before next Lok Sabha elections.

Now, there is government and it has majority. Is it possible to fulfill the promise if there would be no majority in future”, Vishveshwara Thirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Mutt asked the BJP government at the centre.

In a media interaction during his visit to Kaggoda to participate in Indian cultural festival on Monday, the Swamiji said that “We have waited for five years for Ram Mandir construction. Now we are prevailing upon the BJP government at the centre. The promises were not fulfilled.

But this is the right time for Ram Mandir construction. Though the Mandir construction issue is in Supreme Court, the centre could bring in Ordinance as per the opinions of legal experts. In view of this, the government should take a strong decision to retain the people’s faith on it”, he said.

”Ram Mandir issue was already discussed in the Dharma Samsath, for which we are giving the deadline till election for the construction of Ram Mandir. The central government should live up to its promises”, he demanded.

Let govt convene meeting

“The government itself should convene a harmony meeting between Hindus and Muslims. Earlier, we had conducted such meetings. When Krishnakanth was the vice president, I had convened Hindu-Muslim meeting. Now, I could not organize such meeting. It is better that the central government should convene such meetings. Let the government invite the Muslim religious leaders and us. It should take the first step of harmony. I would participate if the government convened such meeting”, he said.

Swamiji invites Prof Bhagavan to mutt

It was not fair to insult Sri Rama by Prof Bhagavan and others. Earlier also, an open discussion was called at Mysuru over the issue. But the government did not allow it citing law and order problem.

But he would personally invite Prof Bhagavan to the Mutt and discuss with him. He was ready for discussion. If Prof Bhagavan did not accept his invitation, then he would think that the writer has no courage to face him, the swamiji said.

Farmer-Rama both are important

“Both Rama and farmer are important. Rama is a symbol of self –esteem, farmer is the symbol of the country. The governments should take concerns towards the farmers. I would take both the issue together. The governments should take all possible steps to empower farmers economically”, he said.

When Swamiji was asked about Achche Din and administration, the Swamiji said that he would not speak political issues. Why don’t you question the working style of the government? Ask about it. The state government has not introduced any good programmes. But some programmes of the central government were good, he said.

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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.