Mangaluru: BJP denies selling party tickets amidst Chaithra Kundapura scandal
Mangaluru: Amidst the recent controversy surrounding the arrest of Hindutva activist Chaithra Kundapura for allegedly defrauding an Udupi businessman of Rs 5 crore by promising him a BJP ticket for the last Assembly election, senior BJP leader CT Ravi clarified in a press conference that the party does not engage in the practice of selling tickets for monetary gain.
Addressing reporters at the Sangha Niketana Hall in Mangaluru, CT Ravi, who is in the city to prepare for the upcoming elections, stated, "Unlike the incident involving Chaithra Kundapura, the BJP does not have a system of accepting money from individuals in exchange for party tickets. Many of our elected representatives, including BJP legislators from Byndoor and Sullia, come from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. In the current case, the truth will only emerge after a thorough investigation."
Ravi also offered his perspective on the matter, suggesting that Udupi businessman Govinda Babu Poojary should have exercised caution and conducted inquiries to avoid falling victim to deception.
Regarding the party's election preparations, Ravi mentioned, "We are gearing up for the Assembly elections in five states and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. While discussions with JD(S) leaders have taken place, the BJP has yet to make a final decision on forming an alliance."
He further noted that the delay in selecting the Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly could be seen as a political strategy employed by the BJP.
The press conference in Mangaluru was attended by Dakshina Kannada District President of the BJP Sudarshan Moodbidri, former minister Kota Srinivas Poojary, former MLA Monappa Bhandary, MCC Mayor Sudhir Shetty, party spokesperson Ravishankar Mijar, and member Randeep Kanchan.
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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.
