I will become Karnataka CM if party high command asks me to: Priyank Kharge
Mysuru: Minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Priyank Kharge has said that he was ready to be the Chief Minister of Karnataka if the Congress High Command ask him to take charge of the state administration.
His statement, however, has piqued the interest of people, given that it was made in the backdrop of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's words before the media that he would continue as Karnataka CM for five years.
Addressing reporters in Mysuru on Friday, Kharge responded to a question in the matter, saying his statements were only his personal opinions. "If the Party High Command tells me to be the CM, however, I will take charge too," he added.
Asked further about the CM's statement on heading the administration for five years, Kharge said, "That too is Siddaramaiah's personal opinion. Four members of the party, who have already discussed the matter in a meeting held in New Delhi, are the only people who have a clear picture of the steps that will be taken in this regard. The statements made by anyone else have no importance."
He added that, while the final decision on who will be the CM will be taken by the Congress High Command, everyone in the party was free to express his or her opinion and Siddaramaiah need not be held at fault for his statement.
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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.
