In message to Congress, Kumaraswamy gets all JD(S) MLAs together, rubbishes talk of defection
Hassan (K'taka) (PTI): JD(S) Karnataka President H D Kumaraswamy on Wednesday expressed faith in the party's legislators and said none of them would jump ship to the Congress as claimed by the ruling party.
The former chief minister questioned the ruling party's "duplicity" in accusing the BJP of 'Operation Lotus' while its own leaders, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, are making open claims about MLAs and leaders from the BJP and JD(S) joining the Congress.
The JD(S) leadership convened a meeting of its legislators and party leaders in this district headquarters town yesterday to convey a message of unity, amid reports that many of its legislators would defect to the Congress.
All the legislators also visited the famous Hasanamba temple here and offered prayers.
"Out of 19 MLAs in yesterday's meeting, 18 MLAs have attended. The 19th MLA -- who has not come -- Sharanagouda Kandakur (Gurmitkal MLA) is like a son of our house. He is in a bit of confusion. Will set things right; it is not a big issue," Kumaraswamy said.
There is none in the party who is disgruntled and wants to quit "falling prey to the allurements of the Congress government", he said. "Despite the hate politics of this government, by not supporting development in their constituencies (of JDS MLAs), none of our MLAs will quit the party under pressure from the Congress."
However, Kandakur, who is unhappy over JD(S)'s alliance with BJP, speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, said he did not attend the party meeting as he had to attend a "committee meeting" in Bengaluru. He said he had "not informed" the party about his inability to attend.
Asked whether he was disgruntled with the party, the MLA said, "There is no such thing. Even if it is there, such a thing cannot be shared before the media... I have already shared my unhappiness over the alliance with BJP with the leadership."
He said he met the chief minister and other ministers but it was only to talk about development works, and that no one from the Congress has contacted him. "According to me, Congress has no such need as they have 136 MLAs."
Party president Kumaraswamy asserted that all JD(S) workers are united like a family and said the meeting was called to give clarity and to send a message of unity, amid a misinformation campaign that five to eight legislators might quit the party.
"Today also I saw media reports about this government's intelligence department giving them (Cong govt) information about 35-40 MLAs becoming victims to 'Operation Kamala' in the garb of a trip to Mumbai," he said. "To stop it, Congress high command including CM and DCM are making efforts," he added, noting that the same Congress leaders on the other hand are claiming that a number of BJP and JD(S) leaders were ready to join the ruling party.
Asking why the 136-MLA-strong Congress government has come to a situation where they are calling breakfast and dinner meetings and warnings are being given to leaders and legislators, Kumaraswamy advised the ruling party to set its affairs in order, instead of making claims about other parties' legislators quitting.
"By making such false claims, Congress is indulging in low grade politics. They are creating a situation where other party workers lose confidence in their own legislators and start doubting them," he said.
Claiming that the Congress fears JD(S), despite the regional party having very few legislators, Kumaraswamy said the ruling party is "petrified" hearing about the BJP-JD(S) alliance.
There is a preliminary agreement for alliance after discussions with the Delhi leadership of the BJP, he said in response to a question. The further process of alliance will begin once the five state elections are over, and that process will include state BJP leaders being taken into confidence, he added.
He also indicated that the BJP is likely to focus on its state unit, including appointing a leader of opposition in the state, after the elections in five states.
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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.
