BJP, JD(S) are struggling like fish out of water: CM Siddaramaiah attacks two parties
Belagavi (K'taka) (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said BJP and JD(S) are in a state of illusion about his government's fall, as he hit out at former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy for predicting its collapse.
The BJP and JD(S) have joined hands and struck an alliance in Karnataka to fight the ruling Congress in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
"BJP and JD(S) are struggling like fish out of water, they are in a state of illusion, what to do?" Siddaramaiah told reporters here in response to a question on Kumaraswamy's statement that the government will collapse.
Kumaraswamy, the JD(S) state President, on Sunday claimed that an 'influential minister' of the ruling Congress may join the BJP as he is desperate to wriggle out of 'cases' filed against him by the Centre.
The Minister may quit the Congress and join the BJP along with '50 to 60 MLAs,' and he is currently 'negotiating' with BJP leaders, he had said.
Regarding Minister Priyank Kharge insisting on removing the life-size portrait of Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar from the Assembly chamber at the 'Suvarna Vidhana Soudha' here, Siddaramaiah said, "it is a matter concerning the Speaker."
The unveiling of Savarkar's portrait in December, 2022 by the previous BJP government, along with several national icons, had drawn criticism from the then opposition -- Congress -- which had alleged that it was a unilateral decision, keeping them in the dark.
Stating that the government is ready to respond on all issues raised by the Opposition, the Chief Minister said there is no question of any delay or wasting time on the part of his government.
"Discussion has happened regarding the drought situation in the state and we will be replying to it probably today. From tomorrow, issues related to the north Karnataka region will be discussed and we will reply to it," he added.
On the alleged lack of coordination among BJP leaders in the Assembly, Siddaramaiah said there is no chance of any coordination between them as there are two to three groups in the opposition party.
"There has never been coordination among BJP leaders, as they had come to power through 'Operation Lotus' and subsequently they lost in Assembly polls in May, as people rejected them," he said.
Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah said he has told Panchamasali Lingayat community leaders and seers that he will talk to them in Bengaluru, after the conclusion of the ongoing Assembly session, regarding their demands, including 2A category reservation among backward classes.
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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.
