"How does PM travel?": CM Siddaramaiah asks BJP, on being criticized for using luxury jet
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah snapped back at the BJP for its criticism following the sharing of a video of him and two of his Cabinet ministers journeying in a chartered flight to New Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, questioning the Opposition party how the PM travels.
The CM had met Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi on December 19 to ask the Central government to release drought relief funds for Karnataka. He was accompanied by Housing Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan and Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda during the visit.
With the video that shows Siddaramaiah, Khan and Gowda traveling in the private jet going viral on social media, the Karnataka Congress is being severely criticized by the BJP for using such luxury facilities although the state was struggling to cope with drought.
ALSO READ: Video of Karnataka CM in luxury jet goes viral, draws sharp reaction from BJP
As he returned from New Delhi, Siddaramaiah was thronged by reporters, who also questioned him about his mode of transport.
Calling the BJP comment and criticism silly, the CM retorted, "Ask the BJP how Prime Minister Narendra Modi travels? Why does he travel alone?"
VIDEO | "How does Narendra Modi travel? You tell me first. Please ask this question to the BJP people – which plane Narendra Modi travels in? He travels alone. Why does he travel alone? BJP leaders will keep saying something silly," says Karnataka CM @siddaramaiah when asked… pic.twitter.com/VPxBqZqNxk
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 22, 2023
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
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.
