SL Dharme Gowda elected as Council Deputy Chairman
Belagavi, Dec 19: SL Dharme Gowda of JDS was unanimously elected as the Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council on Wednesday.
As soon as the Council proceedings started, Council Chairman Prathap Chandra Shetty began the election process for the Deputy Chairman post. SL Dharme Gowda from JDS was the only candidate for the post. Since Dharme Gowda was the only candidate, Chairman Prathap Chandra Shetty announced his unanimous election as the Deputy Chairman.
Speaking on the occasion, newly elected Deputy Chairman SL Dharme Gowda said that he would allow the healthy debate in the House. Since the Chair has its own respect, he would work to protect it. Seeking the cooperation from ruling and opposition parties, he said that he would conduct the Session apolitically.
“I haven’t expected that I would be considered for the post of Legislative Council Deputy Chairman post. I have never ever asked power. The party has chosen me for the post. I would like to thank former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, PWD Minister HD Revanna, and members of ruling and opposition parties”, he said.
Opposition Leader in the Council Kota Srinivas Poojary said that opposition party has cooperated in electing the Deputy Chairman unopposed. He should uphold the Raja Dharma. The Deputy Chairman should give opportunity to the Opposition party to discuss the burning issues. The opposition party would give full cooperation for conducting the Session smoothly, he said.
It was common in a democratic system that opposition parties criticize ruling party. It was the duty of the opposition party to wield a whip when the ruling party took wrong steps. There was no doubt in the capacity of Dharme Gowda, he said.
Deputy leader of the Opposition in the Council Narayanaswamy said that the Council has given a good message to the country by electing its Chairman and Deputy Chairman unopposed.
Opposition party has also contributed in the unanimous election of Dharme Gowda. While discharging your duties in the Council, you have to control your brother Bhojegowda to ensure free and smooth Session, he said in a humorous way.
BJP members Ayanur Manjunath, Tejaswini Gowda, Pranesh and Narayanaswamy, JDS members Sharavana, Appaji Gowda, Ramesh Gowda and others congratulated Dharme Gowda.
Council leader Dr Jayamala said that Dharme Gowda has ‘dharma’ in his name and she hoped that he would work honestly as the Deputy Chairman. He should conduct the Session like Dharmaraya and the ruling party would extend all support, she added.
Council member CM Ibrahim said that now, he was satisfied after 22 years. Because, he had demanded ministerial berth to Dharme Gowda’s father. But he was not given the ministerial berth. Now, he would congratulate HD Deve Gowda for making Dharme Gowda as the Deputy Chairman, Ibrahim 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.
