Upset that a PM from land of Mahatma can go this level: Pitroda on Modi's barb against Rajiv Gandhi
New Delhi: Congress leader Sam Pitroda Monday reacted strongly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remark that former PM Rajiv Gandhi died as "corrupt number 1", and said he cannot believe that a man from the land of Mahatma Gandhi would go to this level.
At a rally in Uttar Pradesh Saturday, Modi targeted Congress president Rahul Gandhi, saying, "Your father was termed Mr Clean by his courtiers, but his life ended as bhrashtachari no 1 (corrupt number 1)," Modi had said.
On Monday, Pitroda told a press conference here, "I cannot believe that a man from Mahatma Gandhi's soil Gujarat would go to that level and make a comment on someone who died with great honour."
Mahatma Gandhi was born in the coastal town of Porbandar in Gujarat on October 2, 1869. Prime Minister Modi also hails from the state.
Pitroda, a longtime Gandhi family adviser and the Indian Overseas Congress chief, also said, "I had the privilege of working with Rajiv Gandhi when he was (party's) General Secretary and then when he was the prime minister. I just want people to remember that all the modern technology -- including cellphones - that we enjoy today came during the Rajiv Gandhi era."
He added that it was Rajiv Gandhi's political will that gave meaning to "my life and the work I did in India". Pitroda is credited with being the architect of the telecom revolution in India under Rajiv Gandhi.
"I am convinced that Mr. Modi is all shaken up based on the results of the first four phases (of Lok Sabha polls). He will be more shaken up based on the results of the fifth phase. At the end of the day, he really doesn't have much to talk about in terms of accomplishments," Pitroda said. "As opposed to talking about your performance, they go attack people like Rajiv Gandhi. What a shame that you have to get to that level...I am very upset that a prime minister from Mahatma Gandhi's soil would go to this level," he added.
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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.
