Will order to shoot cow smugglers: Minister Mankal Vaidya
KARWAR (PTI): Amid cow theft cases in Uttara Kannada district, District in-charge Minister Mankal S Vaidya has warned that those indulging in such activities would be shot at on the road or at the circle in the open.
Asserting that he will not let such activities to continue in the district, he assured that the administration is taking all necessary measures to protect cows and the interest of those rearing it.
The minister's statement came in the wake of outrage over the recent incident of the slaughtering of a pregnant cow near Honnavar here.
"Cow theft has been happening for several years. I have told the SP (Superintendent of Police) that this should stop and should not happen at any cost. It is wrong. We worship cows. We affectionately rear this animal. We grow up drinking its milk," Vaidya said.
Speaking to reporters here on Monday, he said, he had instructed police to take merciless action against those behind it, irrespective of whoever they are.
"Arrests have been made (in some cases) - if such things continue - it may be wrong if I say this. I will ensure that they (accused) are shot on the road or at the circle. Work, earn and eat. There are enough jobs available in our district. We won't support such people at any cost," he added.
Noting that such incidents had happened earlier too, when the BJP was in power, the minister hit out at the opposition party for targeting the government on the issue, and accused it of remaining silent on the issue while in power.
"If we support such activities, how do FIRs and arrests happen? We are not sitting quiet, department (police) is taking action to control it, the government is there. I'm here, all action is being taken.
Neither the government, nor the Chief Minister or Home Minister will support anyone on this issue.
We will work to protect those rearing cows, there is no need to fear," he 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.
