Karnataka Guv writes to CM, Speaker to revoke suspension of 18 BJP MLAs from Assembly
Bengaluru, Apr 29 (PTI): Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Speaker U T Khader, to positively consider the request to revoke the suspension of 18 BJP members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), and to take necessary steps in this regard.
In separate letters addressed to the Chief Minister and the Speaker, the Governor expressed his "desire" that they take such a decision in order to uphold the basic tenets of democratic values in the State and to enable the suspended MLAs to resume their responsibilities as representatives of the people.
A BJP delegation, led by state party president B Y Vijayendra and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka, had met the Governor at Raj Bhavan on Monday and submitted a memorandum seeking revocation of the suspensions. They termed the move “undemocratic and unconstitutional.”
They urged the Governor to direct the Speaker to reconsider the suspension and allow the MLAs to fulfill their duties as elected representatives.
In an unprecedented move on March 21, 18 BJP MLAs were suspended for six months for showing “indiscipline” and “disrespecting” the Speaker.
They were forcefully evicted from the Assembly by marshals after refusing to leave.
The Governor, citing the memorandum submitted by the BJP legislative party leaders from both the Assembly and the Council, stated in his letter that they had requested him to forward their representation to the Speaker and the state government to reconsider the suspension order imposed on the 18 MLAs, who belong to the principal opposition party.
"In view of the above, to uphold the basic tenets of democratic values in the State of Karnataka and to enable the suspended Members to resume their responsibilities as people’s representatives, I desire that their request be considered positively, and necessary steps be taken to revoke the suspension," the Governor’s letter dated April 28 stated.
"Further, details of the action taken may be brought to my notice," Gehlot added.
The incident leading to the suspension occurred on the last day of the Assembly’s budget session, when BJP MLAs staged a massive protest. They were opposing the 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in public contracts and demanding a judicial probe into an alleged “honey-trap” attempt involving Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna.
During the protest inside the Assembly, some BJP legislators climbed onto the Speaker’s podium and surrounded his chair, while others hurled papers from the well of the House. Marshals had to intervene and forcibly evict the legislators.
The suspended MLAs include BJP chief whip Doddanagouda Patil, former Deputy CM C N Ashwath Narayan, S R Vishwanath, B A Basavaraju, M R Patil, Channabasappa, B Suresh Gowda, Umanath Kotyan, Sharanu Salagar, Dr Shailendra Beldale, C K Ramamurthy, Yashpal Suvarna, B P Harish, Bharath Shetty, Dheeraj Muniraju, Chandru Lamani, Muniratna, and Basavaraj Mattimud.
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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.
