Siddaramaiah & other Cong leaders say they had declined invite for seminar on China
Bengaluru, Aug 27: Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Saturday clarified that he had declined to participate in the India-China Friendship Association-Karnataka's (ICFA-K) seminar, and expressed surprise over his name still appearing on the event's invitation, after it drew flak from the BJP.
The invitation for "Seminar on Taiwan", with the topic, "Interference of US imperialist in the internal affairs of the People's Republic of China" and Chinese photographic exhibition, bore the former Chief Minister's name as chief guest, along with other Congress leaders.
The likes of BJP National General Secretary C T Ravi, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha National Secretary Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga and Hindutva ideologue Chakravarty Sulibele, among others had earlier Saturday criticised the Congress, for Siddaramaiah and its other leaders participating in the event.
However, following the controversy, the seminar that was scheduled for Sunday at the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, stands cancelled, but the photo exhibition will continue as scheduled, ICFA-K General Secretary V Bhaskaran said.
"I had declined the invitation of India-China Friendship Association to participate in their event which will be held tomorrow. It is surprising to see my name despite declining it," Siddaramaiah tweeted with a cropped invitation.
"I declined to participate as my party's and my position are against the agenda of the programme," he added.
Names of other Congress leaders like former Minister H C Mahadevappa were mentioned as guest of honour in the invite and Rajya Sabha Member L Hanumanthaiah and former Minister P G R Sindhia, who are marked as speakers, have also tweeted that they too had declined to participate in the event, stating that its agenda was against their position.
The invite mentions Sindhia as ICFA national President, and Kolar MLA K Srinivas Gowda, who was recently expelled from JD(S) and has openly expressed his willingness to join the Congress, as ICFA-K President.
According to the invite, Sun Weidong, Chinese Ambassador to India, and Kong Xianhua Consul-General of the People's Republic of China in Mumbai, were to participate in the event.
Ravi in a tweet said, "If anyone had any doubt that CONgress works for China, this will clear their doubt. Why should CONgress side with China if America is interfering in its internal affairs? Is this MoU signed by Rahul Gandhi with Chinese Communist Party the reason behind this support to China?
Bagga in a tweet called Congress "China's agent".
"We saw secret meeting pics of Rahul Gandhi with China Envoys in the past but this is new and huge. Congress is China's Agent it's official now. You can understand now why Congress always target Indian Army, why support tukde-tukde gang, Batla House terrorists and Anti- Nationals," he said.
While Sulibele in a tweet said, "Take a bow @siddaramaiah avare. Protesting against America for their interference in China's internal matters?! Wah. You never protested when China poke it's nose into Indian affairs. Great leadership."
Following Siddaramaiah's clarification, he tweeted and said, "Finally @siddaramaiah avaru clarified his stand after everyone tweeting against him. But why he cropped the invitation? Just to hide that the rest guests are from @INCIndia? What is the party's position then? Pro China? Anti India? Please clarify..."
I had declined the invitation of India-China Friendship Association to participate in their event which will be held tomorrow. It is surprising to see my name despite declining it.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) August 27, 2022
I declined to participate as my party's & my position are against the agenda of the program. pic.twitter.com/TmsrazwBTD
If anyone had any doubt that CONgress works for China, this will clear their doubt.
— C T Ravi 🇮🇳 ಸಿ ಟಿ ರವಿ (@CTRavi_BJP) August 27, 2022
Why should CONgress side with China if America is interfering in its internal affairs?
Is this MoU signed by Rahul Gandhi with Chinese Communist Party the reason behind this support to China? pic.twitter.com/ZeeD2KAnLq
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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.
