Bhatkal: Former Judge of the Supreme Court of India Markande Katju on Sunday stated that India was a country of immigrants and a majority of people living in the country were from immigrant lineage.

The former judge who is known for his outspoken nature also went on to add even Dravidians and Aryans were immigrants and not natives of India.

He was speaking at the valedictory event of the Centenary Celebrations of Anjuman Hami-e-Muslimeen Bhatkal. He further added that over 90% of the people in the country are from immigrant lineage.

“India was a land that everyone wanted to come to. So people from all regions, religions, and cultures kept coming to India and that is where India diversified. That’s why we have so many languages, so many cultures, and such a diverse and vibrant population.” He said.

He also went on to add that Mughal Emperor Akbar was the original architect of modern India and was the first father of the nation.

Katju then said misinformation was being spread against Tiger of Mysore Tippu Sultan to hinder his image as a just and prolific ruler.

"Tippu Sultan sent grants to 156 Hindu temples in his kingdom, and today people are saying he was a tyrant and bigot to spoil his image. These attempts to hinder his image must be foiled.” Katju said.

He also condemned the incident from UP wherein a 10-year-old boy was thrashed for refusing to chant “Jai Shri Ram”. Katju said events like this, break the country into pieces.

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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.