Karnataka Cong meeting on Jan 10 to discuss LS poll preparations: Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress president D K Shivakumar on Saturday said a meeting of party legislators and leaders has been called on January 10 to discuss preparations for the Lok Sabha polls.
The party has already set a target of winning at least 20 out of 28 Lok Sabha seats in the state in the forthcoming general elections.
"On January 10, a meeting of legislators, AICC Secretary, state vice-presidents and general secretaries has been called to discuss the way ahead, after that I'm calling a meeting of our block presidents, and we will make our preparations," Shivakumar said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said he will be travelling to Delhi on January 4 along with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
"There is a party meeting in Delhi, they (central leadership) are going to give guidelines regarding candidates for Parliamentary elections. Our Ministers have already given a report regarding the probable candidates (from respective segments), a survey has to be done about them. To discuss it a meeting has been called," he added.
The BJP had swept 2019 Lok Sabha polls by winning 25 out of 28 seats in the state, while an independent supported by it won one seat. The Congress and JD(S) won just one seat each.
Noting that the appointment of party legislators to key posts in state-run boards and corporations are likely to happen any soon, Shivakumar in response to a question said, an equal number of party workers will be appointed to these posts within fifteen days, probably by Sankranti.
"The list is by and large ready...the Delhi leadership is also getting the report with respect to people who were promised. It will be done," he added.
Responding to a question on 'Government at Your Doorstep' programme announced by him, the DCM, who is also in-charge of Bengaluru development, said "Instead of people coming to to my doorstep or the CM's, we plan to go to the doorstep of the people by clubbing two or three constituencies together, we will travel in all 28 constituencies (in Bengaluru) and resolve all issues concerning the people there, whether it is related to water or khata, police, BESCOM (power supply company), corporation, or five guarantee schemes."
"We will invite all legislators and MPs to be part of it," he added.
The grievance redressal programme is expected to be held for a period of 10 days starting from January 3.
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.
