Zouk fest: Guilty should be punished, says Oscar

Rajya Sabha MP Oscar Fernandes said the people who are found guilty in organising the alleged rave party in St Mary’s island to promote tourism should be punished.

Speaking to media persons on his arrival at the Congress office for a condolence meet, Fernandes said the incident is highly disgraceful and it is the responsibility of the government to conduct inquiry into the illegal activities that has been reported.

“I request the government to hold an inquiry into all those matters associated with the music fest. Our party MLAs had raised the issue in the Assembly and the misfortune is that the discussion was cut off in the middle. Assembly is a forum for the discussion and debate and as a result of which measures will be taken against those who act illegitimately. If the process is not strictly followed, the public will be at agony,” he added. He said government should not give scope for the protest and public rage and react to the issues immediately that propose to stir public anger, he said.

Stating that government should act swiftly and take actions against those who are involved in the incident, he said it is secondary to take into the consideration the status of the person or the body that is involved in the illegal act. Whoever is found guilty should be punished according to the degree of their involvement in the corrupt deeds. The government is at the helm of affairs of responsibilities as it is authorised to answer public. “Udupi is known for the traditional culture and we have different cultural atmosphere. It is not that easy for the invasion of the cultural values and it is not liable also. Public will express their anger. European countries have their own cultural values that suit them and not Indians, he added.

He stressed that the guilty should be punished immediately. The organisers and the persons who are responsible to direct the music fest towards wrong path and also against law should be taken into account, he added.

Meet cancelled as youth dies

The proposed meeting by the Legal and Human Rights Department of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, Bangalore, was cancelled owing to the death of a labourer who was involved in the stage preparations for the meet. The labourer has been identified as Prakash Nayak aged 23. He was electrocuted. The KPCC has announced Rs 1 lakh as compensation to the family of the victim. Legal and Human Rights Department of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, Bangalore Chairman C M Dhananjaya and KPCC Secretary and Udupi District in charge K P Nanjundi announced Rs 50000 each respectively to the victim’s family.

The condolence meet was attended by Congress district President Gopal Poojary, former Minister Jayaprakash Hegde, and Udupi Block Congress Committee President Pramodh Madhwaraj.