Siddaramaiah to pacify dissidents within Congress
Former minister Ramesh Jarakiholi returns to Belagavi
Bengaluru, December 25: As differences of opinions cropped up among a section of MLAs soon after the expansion of the Cabinet, former chief minister and Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah has decided to pacify the dissidents within the party.
As Ramesh Jarakiholi said that he would take a decision on resigning from his MLA position within four days, Siddaramaiah has decided to speak to Ramesh Jarakiholi and Ramalinga Reddy. Even Congress state incharge and AICC general secretary KC Venugopal is also arriving in Bengaluru today. But suddenly, Ramesh Jarakiholi left for Belagavi.
“I will not meet any Congress leader. I will hold meetings with my workers and supporters and take next decision”, he said.
It is said that Ramesh Jarakiholi is upset over the attitude of some Congress leaders for dropping him from the Cabinet. As soon as he received the invitation from Siddaramaiah for meeting, Ramesh left for Belagavi triggering more scope for suspicion.
When media people tried to speak to him at Hubballi airport, Ramesh said ‘no comments’ and left.
As Ramesh Jarakiholi left for Belagavi suddenly, Siddaramaiah summoned Minister Sathish Jarakiholi to Bengaluru. After taking oath as the minister, Sathish has gone to Belagavi for the first time. Following a call from Siddaramaiah, Sathish is going to Bengaluru to participate in a meeting of Congress leaders.
On the other hand, Siddaramaiah has also invited former minister Ramalinga Reddy for discussion and held meeting at Siddaramaiah’s house.
Meeting with followers
Meanwhile, as the minister post is denied to him, former minister Ramalinga Reddy has decided to convene a meeting of his followers and discuss the further course of action. It is said that he would invite BBMP members of BTM Layout and Jayanagar Assembly constituencies, block Congress leaders, former corporators and other leaders for the meeting.
Recently, Reddy had said that he had some differences with two Congress leaders and he would shortly hold a press conference and disclose it. It is said that Reddy has been trying to convince the party high command through his supporters that his induction into the cabinet is inevitable keeping in mind the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
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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.
