Kamal Haasan says his party is not BJP's "B Team"
Tirunelveli (TN), Feb 24: Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan Sunday denied that his outfit was the Bharatiya Janata Party's "B team" and asserted that the party was being targeted as they were growing in stature.
Addressing a party rally here late tonight, Haasan, without directly naming any outfit, said he was being targeted as his party was growing in stature.
One of the attacks was calling his party "the BJP's B team," he said.
Refuting it, he said,"I am not a B team for anyone, this is Tamil Nadu's A team."
Days ago, the DMK organ 'Murasoli," had alleged that he was accusing it of corruption due to "BJP's pressure."
Attacking the grand alliance of the opposition parties, Haasan said the so called "mahaghatbandhan" would jump on to the winning side after the Lok Sabha poll outcome if the opposite camp won.
During such times, only his party would stand upright -without giving room for horse trading- for the Tamil Nadu people, he said.
His party's voice will be heard in such a situation, he said, adding "we cannot say what is going to happen," an apparent reference to the Lok Sabha poll outcome.
During such times, a voice should be heard saying that at least the Prime Minister should be changed, Hassan said.
"Let us see if there is humility if another person takes over," he alleged in an attack perceived to be aimed at the BJP.
He said he was not facing the Lok Sabha election alone and pointed to the huge crowd and sought donations from them to face the polls.
"It will be an investment for the future," he said.
Describing himself as a fan of Mahatma Gandhi, he said the Father of the Nation was his mentor and because of him he founded the party.
On a sword being gifted to him, he said it was an old practise, adding only "ahimsa is a big valour."
Outlining his party's principles, he said: "People's welfare alone is MNM's ideology."
Redeeming the lost political dignity and ethos of the Tamil people, upholding secularism, poverty alleviation and ensuring education of international standards are among the party ideals, he said.
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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.
