<p>Union minister <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-hotel-fire-that-killed-17-emergency-exit-was-locked-says-union-minister-kj-alphons-196987">KJ Alphons</a> has said that he did not take a selfie with a slain CRPF jawan's coffin. The jawan, Havildar Vasantha Kumar VV, had died in the Pulwama attack.&nbsp;</p>

<p>His body was brought back to Wayanad, Kerala on Saturday. Hundreds of people had come to pay their last respects to him, with Alphons, who is minister of state (with independent charge) for tourism, being one of them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>That was when the photograph was taken.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>With the country in shock after the Pulwama attack, in which over 40 CRPF jawans died, Alphons had faced a massive amount of flak on social media.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Union minister Alphons Kj<br />
Taking selfie with martyreds coffin<br />
Why it is so imp to do publicity<a href="https://twitter.com/manojnair96?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@manojnair96</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/bhushankpatil12?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bhushankpatil12</a> <a href="https://t.co/8whHx59IkM">pic.twitter.com/8whHx59IkM</a></p>
— SANDIP DAVE (@SandipskDave) <a href="https://twitter.com/SandipskDave/status/1096851741163823104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We Malayalis would like to apologise for Alphons KJ. Better late than never</p>
— Weed (@goonerblues) <a href="https://twitter.com/goonerblues/status/1096851583248281603?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>Alphons has now said the photograph in question was not a selfie. That "some person had taken my photographs standing near the coffin. My media secretary had put the same on Facebook."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Alphons has also complained to the Kerala director general of police.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Alleging that the photo was a selfie taken by me, some miscreants had spread false news against me on social media. The act of those miscreants reduced my reputation in the public, which is an offence punishable under the provisions of IPC," Alphons said to the DGP.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Union Minister KJ Alphons to Kerala DGP: I attended the last ceremonial rites of Vasantha Kumar, who sacrificed his life for the nation, on 16th Feb at Wayanad. Some person had taken my photographs standing near the coffin. My media secretary had put the same on Facebook. <a href="https://t.co/P7q2EQOK1b">pic.twitter.com/P7q2EQOK1b</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1097301793736843265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>"It's uncharitable, unbecoming and illegal to spread false news when I, representing the nation as a union minister, was paying homage to a jawan who laid down his life for the nation. Kindly take appropriate action against culprits and bring them before law," Alphons added.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Union minister KJ Alphons has said that he did not take a selfie with a slain CRPF jawan's coffin. The jawan, Havildar Vasantha Kumar VV, had died in the Pulwama attack.

Union minister KJ Alphons has said that he did not take a selfie with a slain CRPF jawan's coffin. The jawan, Havildar Vasantha Kumar VV, had died in the Pulwama attack. His body was brought back to Wayanad, Kerala on Saturday. Hundreds of people had come to pay their last respects to him, with Alphons, who is minister of state (with independent charge) for tourism, being one of them. That was when the photograph was taken. × With the country in shock after the Pulwama attack, in which over 40 CRPF jawans died, Alphons had faced a massive amount of flak on social media. Union minister Alphons Kj Taking selfie with martyreds coffin Why it is so imp to do publicity@manojnair96 @bhushankpatil12 pic.twitter.com/8whHx59IkM — SANDIP DAVE (@SandipskDave) February 16, 2019 × We Malayalis would like to apologise for Alphons KJ. Better late than never — Weed (@goonerblues) February 16, 2019 × Alphons has now said the photograph in question was not a selfie. That "some person had taken my photographs standing near the coffin. My media secretary had put the same on Facebook." Alphons has also complained to the Kerala director general of police. "Alleging that the photo was a selfie taken by me, some miscreants had spread false news against me on social media. The act of those miscreants reduced my reputation in the public, which is an offence punishable under the provisions of IPC," Alphons said to the DGP. Union Minister KJ Alphons to Kerala DGP: I attended the last ceremonial rites of Vasantha Kumar, who sacrificed his life for the nation, on 16th Feb at Wayanad. Some person had taken my photographs standing near the coffin. My media secretary had put the same on Facebook. pic.twitter.com/P7q2EQOK1b — ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2019 × "It's uncharitable, unbecoming and illegal to spread false news when I, representing the nation as a union minister, was paying homage to a jawan who laid down his life for the nation. Kindly take appropriate action against culprits and bring them before law," Alphons added.

Did not take selfie with slain CRPF jawan, union minister says after flak

<p>Union minister KJ Alphons has said the emergency exit of the Arpit Palace Hotel, which caught fire early Tuesday morning, leading to the deaths of at least 17 people, was locked.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Alphons, who is minister of state (with independent charge) for tourism, visited the accident site on Tuesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“When I headed to the emergency exit, I found that it had been locked yesterday (last night). Also, it was too narrow,” he told reporters there.</p>

<p>“Obviously, even if people came to the emergency exit, they could not have escaped as it was too narrow and it was locked anyway,” he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-hotel-fire-people-jumped-to-save-themselves-but-to-their-deaths-196943">The hotel was allegedly flouting other norms too</a>, including running a makeshift restaurant on the rooftop.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has ordered a magisterial enquiry into the fire.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Suggesting that a short-circuit may have led to the incident, North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) officials said as per the records, the building had faced "intermittent partial demolition" or other civic action under the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act from mid-June 1993 to January 1994, for unauthorised constructions.</p>

<p>Officials said the report of the probe is expected to come in three days.</p>

<p>"A probe has been ordered and its report is expected in three days. The probe will seek to find if there were any lapses from the civic officials' end, or Delhi Fire department's end and also talk about ensuring that such incidents do not recur," North Delhi Mayor Adesh Gupta said.</p>

<p>Action will be taken against civic employees if they are found guilty of committing any lapses, he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the preliminary NDMC report, the fire&nbsp;initially broke out on the second floor of the building.</p>

<p>"As per preliminary information gathered from the site, it reveals that the incidence of fire occurred on the second floor around 3.30 am today due to short-circuit," a senior official said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The hotel was first granted a licence in October 2005 and was renewed every year. The last licence renewal was done on May 25, 2018, which is valid till March 31, the official said.</p>

<p>"However, no unauthorised construction has been reported in the recent past. The entire structure is under protection within the provisions of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act," the official said.</p>

<p>The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill gives immunity to slums and some unauthorised constructions until December 31, 2020. The immunity under the existing Bill ends on December 31.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from PTI)</em></p>


Union minister KJ Alphons has said the emergency exit of the Arpit Palace Hotel, which caught fire early Tuesday morning, leading to the deaths of at least 17 people, was locked.

Union minister KJ Alphons has said the emergency exit of the Arpit Palace Hotel, which caught fire early Tuesday morning, leading to the deaths of at least 17 people, was locked. Alphons, who is minister of state (with independent charge) for tourism, visited the accident site on Tuesday. “When I headed to the emergency exit, I found that it had been locked yesterday (last night). Also, it was too narrow,” he told reporters there. “Obviously, even if people came to the emergency exit, they could not have escaped as it was too narrow and it was locked anyway,” he added. The hotel was allegedly flouting other norms too, including running a makeshift restaurant on the rooftop. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has ordered a magisterial enquiry into the fire. Suggesting that a short-circuit may have led to the incident, North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) officials said as per the records, the building had faced "intermittent partial demolition" or other civic action under the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act from mid-June 1993 to January 1994, for unauthorised constructions. Officials said the report of the probe is expected to come in three days. "A probe has been ordered and its report is expected in three days. The probe will seek to find if there were any lapses from the civic officials' end, or Delhi Fire department's end and also talk about ensuring that such incidents do not recur," North Delhi Mayor Adesh Gupta said. Action will be taken against civic employees if they are found guilty of committing any lapses, he said. As per the preliminary NDMC report, the fire initially broke out on the second floor of the building. "As per preliminary information gathered from the site, it reveals that the incidence of fire occurred on the second floor around 3.30 am today due to short-circuit," a senior official said. The hotel was first granted a licence in October 2005 and was renewed every year. The last licence renewal was done on May 25, 2018, which is valid till March 31, the official said. "However, no unauthorised construction has been reported in the recent past. The entire structure is under protection within the provisions of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act," the official said. The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill gives immunity to slums and some unauthorised constructions until December 31, 2020. The immunity under the existing Bill ends on December 31. (With inputs from PTI)

Delhi hotel fire that killed 17: Emergency exit was locked, says union minister KJ Alphons

<p>Weeks after the being attacked by four unidentified youth at Fatehpur Sikri in Uttar Pradesh, Swiss couple has now been offered an all-expense paid two-night stay at Delhi&#39;s Ashok hotel by the country&#39;s tourism minister KJ Alphons.</p>

<p>Citing it as a &#39;token of concern&#39; in a letter to the couple, the tourism minister has asked them to pick a date for their stay at the hotel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Trust you are recovering fast and would be on your way home soon. As a token of our concern, we would like to offer you a room at our luxury hotel, The Ashok, at Chankyapuri, New Delhi for two nights on the dates of your choice. All expenses at the hotel, including food and beverages, would be covered,&quot; KJ Alphons said in the letter.</p>

<p>Run by ITDC, The Ashok hotel is situated 2km from Rashtrapati Bhavan and the tariff per night at the hotel is around Rs 10,000.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The couple who are currently recovering at Delhi&#39;s Apollo Hospital was attacked by four unidentified youth at Fatehpur Sikri on October 22. As they lay on the ground, injured, the locals shot videos of them instead of calling for&nbsp;help.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Soon after the incident, the tourism minister had written to Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath inquiring about the incident and had even gone and met the couple.&nbsp;</p>


Citing it as a 'token of concern' in a letter to the couple, the tourism minister has asked them to pick a date for their stay at Delhi's Ashok Hotel.

Weeks after the being attacked by four unidentified youth at Fatehpur Sikri in Uttar Pradesh, Swiss couple has now been offered an all-expense paid two-night stay at Delhi's Ashok hotel by the country's tourism minister KJ Alphons. Citing it as a 'token of concern' in a letter to the couple, the tourism minister has asked them to pick a date for their stay at the hotel. "Trust you are recovering fast and would be on your way home soon. As a token of our concern, we would like to offer you a room at our luxury hotel, The Ashok, at Chankyapuri, New Delhi for two nights on the dates of your choice. All expenses at the hotel, including food and beverages, would be covered," KJ Alphons said in the letter. Run by ITDC, The Ashok hotel is situated 2km from Rashtrapati Bhavan and the tariff per night at the hotel is around Rs 10,000. The couple who are currently recovering at Delhi's Apollo Hospital was attacked by four unidentified youth at Fatehpur Sikri on October 22. As they lay on the ground, injured, the locals shot videos of them instead of calling for help. Soon after the incident, the tourism minister had written to Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath inquiring about the incident and had even gone and met the couple.

Attacked Swiss couple offered free stay at five-star hotel

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Did not take selfie with slain CRPF jawan, union minister says after flak

Delhi hotel fire that killed 17: Emergency exit was locked, says union minister KJ Alphons

Attacked Swiss couple offered free stay at five-star hotel