Retd IAF man joins Cong, says PM politicising military's work
Ahmedabad, May 7: Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling BJP of 'politicising' the work of the armed forces, former Air Force veteran from Gujarat, Anil Kumar Kaushik, joined the Congress here on Tuesday.
Kaushik served in the IAF for 17 years as a flight engineer before retiring in the 1990s at the rank of sergeant.
Kaushik, who joined the Congress in the presence of Gujarat unit chief Amit Chavda, claimed he is upset the way PM Modi and other BJP leaders were seeking votes in the names of the armed forces.
"The Congress never took credit for several important army operations, such as liberation of Goa and East Pakistan (that went on to become modern day Bangladesh). Surgical strikes also took place in the past. But, the party (Congress) never used such army operations to get political mileage," Kaushik told reporters.
"However, today's BJP government is politicising the Army's work. Instead of talking about real issues, BJP leaders are seeking votes in the name of armed forces. Narendra Modi should not forget that he is the PM of entire country, not just of a party," Kaushik said.
Welcoming Kaushik in the party, Gujarat Congress president Amit Chavda alleged Modi was trying to build his "political career" by repeatedly invoking armed forces' operations.
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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.
