CM Kumaraswamy fumes over political satire shows, says there is need to bring in law
Bengaluru, May 19: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Sunday slammed news channels over "belittling" of politicians on their satire programmes, saying he felt there was a need to bring in a law to regulate them.
Addressing a public meeting in Mysuru, he also slammed sections of media for raising doubts about the longevity of the JDS-Congress coalition government headed by him and asserted it would continue with the "good wishes" of Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
"What do you think of politicians? You think that we are so easily available to be mocked? Who has given you powers to present everything sarcastically," Kumaraswamy asked the channels.
"Whom are you trying to favour by belittling us among the masses? I feel the need to bring in a law," he added.
Stating that the coalition government led by him was stable, Kumaraswamy said it had the blessings of Congress leaders.
"This government will not go so easily as is being projected that soon after the election results on May 23 (the government would fall). It will continue with the good wishes of Congress president Rahul Gandhi and (former chief minister) Siddaramaiah," he said.
"We are not surviving because of media but because of 6.5 crore people of the state. I am not scared of them (media) at all. I don't care... If I see all the episodes of their stories in the electronic media, I will lose sleep," he said.
Kumaraswamy criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his pilgrimage to Kedarnath and Badrinath shrines.
"When we go to shrines, it is called Temple Run but they (news channels) are clueless when Modi goes to Badrinath (Kedarnath)," he said.
"They said it was not for elections ...then what it was for? Didn't he sit there because his vote share is shrinking? If not that, then what else is the reason for sitting there meditating on Shiva," the chief minister asked.
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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.
