Don't know what's in the mind of Modi, Shah on BJP's alliance with JD(S) for LS polls: Yediyurappa
Bengaluru (PTI): Veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa on Thursday said he doesn't know as to what is in the minds of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the saffron party having an understanding with JD(S) for 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
The former CM, who was in New Delhi on Wednesday to take part in the meeting of the BJP's central election committee, of which he is the member, made it clear that no discussion took place regarding the alliance, during the visit.
"Amid election and other issues, other subjects (BJP-JD(S) poll understanding) did not come up for discussion. After the meeting I have come back. Neither did they (BJP national leadership), nor did I raise any other subjects," Yediyurappa said in response to a question.
Speaking to reporters here, he said he doesn't know what was in the minds of Modi and Amit Shah regarding the poll alliance.
Asked whether there were any reservations from the state BJP about the alliance with JD(S), Yediyurappa, who is also the member of the BJP's all important parliamentary board, said, "what Delhi leadership says is more important. This issue did not come up for discussion yesterday during my Delhi visit."
Certainly, whatever decision is taken by high command in Delhi will be after due consultation with the state leadership, he said. But, so far no such discussions have taken place with regard to poll understanding and other issues.
To a query on his personal opinion regarding the alliance, he said, "... we will all abide by whatever decision the party takes."
Yediyurappa, who is also a BJP parliamentary board member, had last week said that his party will have an understanding with JD(S) for the Lok Sabha elections. The regional party will contest in four LS seats in Karnataka, which has a total of 28 constituencies.
However, he subsequently said that discussions in this regard have not reached finality yet, and that Modi and Shah, who are busy with other responsibilities, may discuss and decide on the issue in a couple of days and decide.
On his part, JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy said discussions on BJP and his party contesting the Lok Sabha polls together are still in the initial phase.
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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.
