Ex-CM Kumaraswamy lit up his house using stolen electricity during Deepavali, alleges Congress
Bengaluru(PTI): The Congress in Karnataka on Tuesday accused former chief minister and JD(S) state chief H D Kumarawamy of drawing power illegally to illuminate his JP Nagar residence here with decorative lights during Deepavali.
The ruling party posted a video along with a statement on social media platform X, criticising the JD(S) leader and son of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda.
Kumaraswamy said it was not his fault but of a private decorator who gave the connection directly from a nearby electricity pole. When he got to know, he immediately got it removed and took the electricity connection from the meter board of the house, he said.
"The lone honest person in the world H D Kumaraswamy's JP Nagar residence was illumined with decorative lights with illegal power connection directly from the electric pole. It is a tragedy that such a poverty has struck a former CM to steal electricity!" the Congress said, taking a dig at him.
Further taking a swipe at Kumaraswamy, the party said the Congress government's 'Gruha Jyoti' scheme offers 200 units of free electricity a month for residential connections and not 2,000 units.
Kumaraswamy said: "I am sorry for this indiscretion. Let BESCOM (Bangalore Electricity Supply Company) officials come and inspect and issue a notice. I will pay the fine," Kumaraswamy responded on X.
He hit out at the Congress for making a big deal out of a "petty issue".
"I have neither embezzled any state property, nor grabbed anyone's land. I don't have such thirst for wealth that it can be quenched by someone's blood," Kumaraswamy said.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said BESCOM will take action. He said he did not know whether any case would be registered against Kumaraswamy
The Congress taunted earlier: "If you were so poverty stricken, then you should have applied for the Gruha Jyoti scheme. Oh, you didn't know that only one electricity meter is allowed under the Gruha Jyoti scheme whereas there are many meters in your name!" Congress said.
"Despite power shortage in the state, measures were taken by us to provide seven hours electricity to the farmers; you are facing such a "drought" that you resort to such a cheap theft? Didn't you hold a press conference and say "Karnataka is in the dark" and now you have lit up your house with stolen electricity?" it added.
The party questioned why he was saying that Karnataka was in the dark when his house was shining with decorative lights!
"To ask a question your own style Do you need to light up your home when the state is facing drought? Do you want to have fun stealing electricity meant for the farmers? Do you want the Diwali' (referring to bankruptcy in Kannada) of people for Deepavali festival' in your house?" the Congress asked.
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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.
