Kumaraswamy asserts that he is not under pressure from Congress
Bengaluru, Jan 9: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Thursday rubbished media reports that he was working under pressure and alleged interference from coalition partner Congress, terming them "speculative" and imaginary".
Reiterating that the Congress-JD(S) coalition government would complete its five-year term amid repeated speculation about its longevity, he said "let there be no disbelief in this regard.
"What should I say about speculative news that has come in the media? They are imaginary it has been created," Kumaraswamy told reporters.
"It is said that I'm working and running this administration in a stifling atmosphere. It is a creation of of some sections of the media.
The discussions that took place in our legislature party meeting is different. I don't know how to react to such speculative news," he said.
According to reports, Kumaraswamy had told party legislators at a recent meeting that he was working under pressure.
He had reportedly told them that he was functioning like a clerk and accused the Congress of interference.
Expressing confidence that the coalition government would complete its five-year term"smoothly", Kumaraswamy said, "let there be no disbelief in this regard."
Reacting to media reports that the Committee on New Education Policy had, in its recommendations, suggested making Hindi compulsory till class VIII, he said "at the time we go for elections, any decision by the union government at this last stage will not have any value. That's my opinion."
Not wishing to make any comments about the proposed controversial steel flyover in Bengaluru,which he had objected to while in the opposition, Kumaraswamy said easing out the problems of the city's citizens was his "top priority".
The government had on January 1 decided to review and take up a multi-billion steel bridge project here, which it had scrapped owing to massive public protests in the city.
"For me, the steel bridge or any other kind of infrastructure work is not important. Easing out the problems of Bangaluru city citizens is my top priority," he added.
Earlier, Congress state campaign committee chief H K Patil had downplayed Kumaraswamy's reported comments about working under pressure and alleged interference from Congress, saying that any issue could be discussed with the party leadership and solved.
He had reiterated his party's stand that both alliance partners would face the Lok Sabha polls together and would even go in for joint campaigning, wherever necessary.
"I have seen media reports about Kumaraswamy's comments, but want to say that elected members may be putting pressure on the chief minister about development and constituency related works. He should not feel that we are putting pressure (on him)," Patil had told reporters.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
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.
