S.R. Mahesh lacks political knowledge: Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
Bengaluru, August 25: “Minister SR Ramesh had lowered the dignity of the upper house of the Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and showed utter lack of regard and knowledge about the Indian Polity,” stated Defense minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
In an official clarification about the heated exchange of words that took place between Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and District in-charge Minister SR Mahesh in flood-hit Kodagu district, said that her Kodagu tour schedule was prepared two days ago and circulated to all concerned departments before her arrival. However, during the trip, the district minister replaced the programme. According to her schedule, the meeting was to be held with ex-servicemen first. Then she had to meet officials after visiting the flood-affected areas. But Minister SR Mahesh pressed for a meeting of officials before.
The protocol was violated by allowing media at a meeting with the district administration. The minister insisted on holding officials meeting first. She went to the meeting of officials to avoid the situation from deteriorating. But, the venue was already set up for the press conference, and hurriedly the officials were summoned to sit among the mediapersons for the review. It was unprecedented to hold a meeting with the officials, with all mediapersons present," the clarification said. “It is unfortunate the way Karnataka minister behaved,” Nirmala Sitharaman said.
There has been gross misinterpretation about the use of the term 'Parivar' by the defense minister. It maintained that all ex-servicemen were part of the ministry of defense parivar.
- Nirmala Sitharaman, Defense Minister
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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.
