SL Dharme Gowda elected as Council Deputy Chairman
Belagavi, Dec 19: SL Dharme Gowda of JDS was unanimously elected as the Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council on Wednesday.
As soon as the Council proceedings started, Council Chairman Prathap Chandra Shetty began the election process for the Deputy Chairman post. SL Dharme Gowda from JDS was the only candidate for the post. Since Dharme Gowda was the only candidate, Chairman Prathap Chandra Shetty announced his unanimous election as the Deputy Chairman.
Speaking on the occasion, newly elected Deputy Chairman SL Dharme Gowda said that he would allow the healthy debate in the House. Since the Chair has its own respect, he would work to protect it. Seeking the cooperation from ruling and opposition parties, he said that he would conduct the Session apolitically.
“I haven’t expected that I would be considered for the post of Legislative Council Deputy Chairman post. I have never ever asked power. The party has chosen me for the post. I would like to thank former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, PWD Minister HD Revanna, and members of ruling and opposition parties”, he said.
Opposition Leader in the Council Kota Srinivas Poojary said that opposition party has cooperated in electing the Deputy Chairman unopposed. He should uphold the Raja Dharma. The Deputy Chairman should give opportunity to the Opposition party to discuss the burning issues. The opposition party would give full cooperation for conducting the Session smoothly, he said.
It was common in a democratic system that opposition parties criticize ruling party. It was the duty of the opposition party to wield a whip when the ruling party took wrong steps. There was no doubt in the capacity of Dharme Gowda, he said.
Deputy leader of the Opposition in the Council Narayanaswamy said that the Council has given a good message to the country by electing its Chairman and Deputy Chairman unopposed.
Opposition party has also contributed in the unanimous election of Dharme Gowda. While discharging your duties in the Council, you have to control your brother Bhojegowda to ensure free and smooth Session, he said in a humorous way.
BJP members Ayanur Manjunath, Tejaswini Gowda, Pranesh and Narayanaswamy, JDS members Sharavana, Appaji Gowda, Ramesh Gowda and others congratulated Dharme Gowda.
Council leader Dr Jayamala said that Dharme Gowda has ‘dharma’ in his name and she hoped that he would work honestly as the Deputy Chairman. He should conduct the Session like Dharmaraya and the ruling party would extend all support, she added.
Council member CM Ibrahim said that now, he was satisfied after 22 years. Because, he had demanded ministerial berth to Dharme Gowda’s father. But he was not given the ministerial berth. Now, he would congratulate HD Deve Gowda for making Dharme Gowda as the Deputy Chairman, Ibrahim said.
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Virudhunagar firecracker unit blast: Toll climbs to 25, Rs 5.5 lakh ex gratia announced
Virudhunagar (Tamil Nadu) (PTI): With most bodies charred beyond recognition, identification remains difficult, police said on Monday, as the toll in the massive explosion at a fireworks unit near Kattanarpatti here rose to 25.
The Virudhunagar district administration has announced Rs 5.5 lakh ex gratia to the kin of deceased.
The accident is one of the deadliest industrial disasters in the region in recent years.
"Bodies were so badly charred that we were able to identify mostly with jewellery that the victims were wearing," a police official told PTI.
He said that the families have not yet claimed the bodies due to the uncertainly in the identities.
The factory owner is absconding, he added.
The accident occurred at the Vanaja firecracker unit, owned by one Muthumanickam, which functions under the Vachakarapatti police station limits.
The unit is reportedly licensed by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), Nagpur.
Post-mortem reports have established that the 25 victims, include 22 women and three men, the police official added.
Eight workers, mostly women, are critically injured with 60 per cent burn injuries. Twelve others, including eight policemen, were injured in a second blast on Sunday evening while rescue operations were underway.
Rescue operations were severely hampered for hours, as unexploded materials continued to detonate.
A second blast at 7.20 pm, triggered as an earthmover was clearing debris, caused chaos and injured several responders, including a revenue official.
Meanwhile, sources said about 1,000 people, including the families of the victims and residents of nearby villages, are threatening a road roko, demanding the arrest of the owner of the factory.
Local eyewitnesses, including Ranganathan from the nearby Seervaikarampatti village, described hearing a massive blast that sent "thick black smoke" into the sky.
"Nothing was recognisable. We saw bodies being loaded four at a time into vehicles," he told PTI Videos.
Many of the deceased were from Seervaikarampatti village, with residents claiming that at least 20 victims belonged to their village.
Among those killed was 46-year-old Indrani, a veteran worker of 25 years.
"My mother was the sole breadwinner. My father is disabled and stays home. I have an MSc degree, but I’m working at a petrol bunk to help out, and we haven't even paid my brother's school fees yet," said Madhubala, Indrani’s daughter, while pleading for government employment assistance.
Virudhunagar Collector N O Sukhaputra confirmed that the unit was operating without permission on a rest day.
Preliminary findings suggest the blast originated in a chemical mixing shed, where nearly 40 workers were busy making crackers, a violation of safety norms that typically limit occupancy to four workers per shed.
"Had these workers followed primary safety norms, the casualties could have been minimal," a senior official stated.
Chief Minister M K Stalin has ordered a high-level probe and directed ministers to oversee relief efforts.
The tragedy follows a similar accident in Vembakottai just days earlier, which claimed four lives, intensifying calls for stricter enforcement of safety regulations in the district’s firecracker hub.
The explosion occurred at approximately 3.15 pm on Sunday. Although the fireworks industry is officially shut on Sundays, over 100 workers were reportedly engaged in production.
Later in the day, Sukhaputra said Rs 5.5 lakh ex gratia each has been finalised for the families of 25 persons killed in the explosion.
Speaking to PTI Videos, he said the ex gratia cheques are ready for immediate distribution to the legal heirs.
"Out of 25 deaths, we have finished conducting post-mortems on 22 bodies. Already we have cheques (that) are ready,” Sukhaputra said.
The announcement followed intense demands from grieving relatives for financial security and government employment.
