EU parliament slams BJP’s ‘nationalist rhetoric’, passes resolution on Manipur violence
India says 'internal matter'
New Delhi: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France coincided with the European Parliament adopting a motion on the violence in Manipur, India. The motion expressed condemnation for the nationalist rhetoric employed by key members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and called for the European Union (EU) to prioritize human rights and democratic values in its engagement with India. The EU Parliament's resolution highlighted concerns over violence, loss of life, property destruction, and violations of human rights in Manipur, particularly affecting minorities, civil society, human rights defenders, and journalists.
While the Indian government maintained that the issue was an internal matter, the EU Parliament underscored allegations of harassment, challenges faced by women, and accusations against the BJP of divisive ethnonationalistic policies. The resolution cited instances of violence along ethnic and religious lines, leading to casualties, displacement, and destruction of property and places of worship. It also acknowledged past secessionist insurgencies in Manipur, accompanied by human rights abuses.
The EU Parliament called on India and local authorities to facilitate unhindered humanitarian aid, allow independent investigations, refrain from inflammatory statements, and play an impartial role in mediating tensions. Additionally, the resolution urged the withdrawal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the region and the restoration of internet services. It proposed joint efforts between the EU and India to address human rights issues, including those pertaining to ethnic and religious minorities, freedom of religion, and belief. The establishment of a regular EU-India Human Rights Dialogue at the highest level with defined criteria and benchmarks for progress was also recommended.
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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.
