Vedic rituals performed in DK schools against govt orders; DC seeks report
Mangaluru: Amid reopening of the new academic year in various schools of the district, Vedic rituals were reportedly conducted against government order in certain schools in and around Dakshina Kannada, triggering social media outrage.
Dakshina Kannada DC Dr Rajendra KV has sought for official report from DDPI after the BEO confirmed that Vedic rites like Homa were performed in certain schools of the district.
A school in Padibagilu near Vitla and another school in Sullia’s Harihara Pallathadka were reportedly performed Homa in the presence of schoolteachers. In addition to it, another school in Poonjalakatte of Belthangady taluk also allegedly performed Vedic rituals against government orders.
Photos and videos of these rituals which have been circulating over social media platforms from the past three days showed teachers lighting the Aratis while applying tilak on their foreheads.
Meanwhile, many schools around the district were reopened by decorating the schools, distributing flowers to the freshers in the presence of prominent people of the schools’ respective localities. However, senior officials have conveyed dismay over the decision of certain schools to perform Homa.
Despite social unrest caused by the Hijab issue months ago, these Homas were conducted on 16 May in Bantwal, Sullia and Belthanagady triggering further criticisms.
Dakshina Kannada DC Dr Rajendra KV said that action will be taken against the schools based on the reports submitted by DDPI.
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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.
