DCM Shivakumar to hold meeting with Vokkaliga MLAs over caste census
Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday said that a meeting has been called with Congress MLAs from the Vokkaliga community to discuss the caste census issue and take their views into account. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters at the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said that the caste census report is being studied, and a comprehensive understanding is still pending.
“I have not seen the entire report yet. Tomorrow, I will hold discussions with our party's MLAs from the Vokkaliga community. We will collect their opinions and advise them to uphold everyone’s dignity without hurting anyone’s sentiments,” he stated.
Responding to a question about allegations that the Congress government was taking away the rights of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes by awarding tenders based on religion, the Deputy CM rejected the claims.
“Reservation has been given to SCs and STs as well. Our government’s priority is to uplift all economically weaker sections of society, regardless of background. The Congress party has always been committed to ensuring justice for all sections of society,” he said.
When asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks alleging that the Congress had taken away the reservation rights of Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Shivakumar dismissed the claims.
“We have not taken away anyone’s reservation,” he said. Taking a swipe at the BJP, Shivakumar added, “A Bengaluru MP targeted a particular community, he limited them to making punctures in his remarks. But it’s important to demonstrate that the community is capable of achieving much more.”
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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.
