Anyone can protest, but no one should damage public property: CM Siddaramaiah on vandalism of shops
Bengaluru(PTI): Asserting that signboards in Karnataka should display information in Kannada, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday issued a warning against taking the law into one's own hands, saying anyone can protest but no one should cause damage to government or public property.
He was reacting to the large-scale vandalism in Bengaluru on Wednesday by activists of the pro- Kannada outfit Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (T A Narayana Gowda faction) targeting shops and business establishments which did not display Kannada signboards, advertisements and name plates. Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) is seeking 60 per cent space on signboards for Kannada displays.
Condemning the vandalism, CM Siddaramaiah said, "We are not opposed to protests. We will not oppose anyone who raises their voice against injustice or seek justice, but will take action against those who take the law into their hands."
Speaking to reporters here, he said he has called a meeting of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike and police officials with the Home Minister to discuss implementation of rules regarding Kannada displays on signboards. "Kannada boards are a must. This is Kannada nadu and the boards should be in Kannada here. We are not opposed to other languages, but Kannada should be prominent," he added.
A magistrate court in Bengaluru has sent over 29 Kannada activists, including Karnataka Rakshana Vedike president T A Narayana Gowda, who were arrested following yesterday's vandalism, to 14 days' judicial custody till January 10.
Asked if the government would withdrew cases against the pro-Kannada activists, the chief minister reiterated that no one should take the law into their hands and the government is not opposed to peaceful protests. To a question on Kannada activists accusing the government of taking action against those fighting for the Kannada cause, and that they would teach Congress a lesson in the Lok Sabha polls, he said, "We have not stopped them from protesting, but we have taken action against those who have taken the law into their hands... Election thing, let's see when it comes; the government is here to maintain law and order."
Stating that one's conduct or behaviour should not disturb or harm others, the CM said, "Anyone can protest, but no one should cause damage to government or public property and take the law into one's own hands."
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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.
