MPs suspension: Murder of democracy, says CM Siddaramaiah
Mysuru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said the suspension of 146 opposition MPs from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha is murder of democracy and a display of 'dictatorial tendencies.'
As the Congress staged a massive demonstration in Bengaluru protesting the suspension for seeking a reply from the Centre on the Parliament security breach, the Chief Minister charged crucial laws were passed keeping the opposition members away.
"Where is democracy? In democracy, the government should listen to the opposition parties. It cannot say that it will not listen to them at all. People have given mandate to the elected representatives, be it in Lok Sabha or Assembly. No one, either the Speaker or anyone else, has power to snatch it," Siddaramaiah told reporters here.
He said there was never a history of suspending so many members in one go as had happened "for the first time" recently.
"It is a murder of democracy. According to them (the ruling BJP), there is no democracy in the country. They are not respecting the sentiments of the people. These are dictatorial tendencies. They are amending laws and passing bills by keeping everyone away. What does it show? It clearly shows that this government is dictatorial," Siddaramaiah said.
When asked how it will impact the Lok Sabha polls, the Chief Minister said the people will decide.
"People have accepted democracy and the Constitution and will not tolerate anyone going against them," he added.
Meanwhile in Bengaluru, the Congress led by Deputy Chief Minister and the party's state president D K Shivakumar staged a demonstration.
The party activists raised slogans calling the BJP anti-constitution and dictatorial.
Speaking to reporters, Shivakumar said the opposition had only said that the unity, integrity and peace in the country is getting disturbed and democracy is being massacred.
"The Union Home Minister (Amit Shah) should answer why the Parliament security breach happened and who was behind it, etc. All that we are asking for is a statement. This BJP government does not have the courtesy to issue a statement. It suspended 146 MPs from Parliament and then passed all the bills. This is a major insult to democracy," Shivakumar said.
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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.
