Shivamogga: Former Minister Araga Jnanendra made a controversial statement on AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge's complexion, during a protest held in Theerthahalli town on Tuesday against the implementation of the Kasturirangan Report.

Addressing the protesters, Jnanendra, who had lashed out at Forest Minister Ishwar Khandre and Kharge, said, “We are unfortunate to have a local representative as Forest Minister, since we have a minister bereft of forests. He knows nothing about trees and plants or the shades of trees, as the greenery seems burnt. Take a look at Kharge and you will realize this. He has survived with barely a few strands of hair on his head.”

Speaking about the Kasturirangan Report, the former minister said that implementation of the report will give rise to problems. “If the original inhabitants were deprived of the forests, the Sahyadri forest range would not have survived. An unscientific survey was conducted from Delhi, merely using satellite images. People are already suffering from many such laws. If the Kasthurirangan report is implemented, the problem will worsen”, he said.

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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.