Karnataka: 27 legislators raise red flag, put JD(S) on notice before bypolls

Agencies
October 21, 2019

Bengaluru, Oct 21: As many as 27 JD(S) legislators, including 11 council members, have put the party on notice, unmasking their deep differences with the first family.

Sources said the strained ties between the legislators and the party's top leadership - former PM HD Deve Gowda, former CM HD Kumaraswamy and former minister HD Revanna - seem to be beyond repair. After unhappy legislators met a week ago, Deve Gowda reportedly tried to broker peace but none expressed desire to show up at that meeting.

The development comes weeks before the December 5 Karnataka by-elections. Sources said the disgruntled legislators are likely to hold a meeting in Mangaluru in the first week of November to discuss the next step. The party put up a brave front and said it will take steps to contain the rebellion.

A senior party legislator said, "When it was in power in alliance with the Congress, the JD(S) didn't take seniors or other leaders seriously even in matters like allocating funds for our constituencies. Should we stand with them when they do not want us?"

JD(S) leaders could move to Congress

A party source said unhappy legislators have grouped into three units: MLAs led by Gubbi MLA SR Srinivas; MLCs with Basavaraj Horatti; and former MLAs under former Nagamangala MLA Suresh Babu. That JD(S) is beset with rebellion is well known with its Mysuru strongman GT Deve Gowda moving closer to BJP and Sa Ra Mahesh submitting resignation to the assembly speaker’s office.

On October 11, a meeting of disgruntled MLCs was held under the leadership of Horatti. An MLC privy to the meeting said only BM Farooq, SL Bhoje Gowda and brother SL Dharme Gowda kept away. “All others attended the meeting,” he added.

The party’s Vokkaliga legislators are looking at the Congress as an option if the party fails to address the issues. Sources said some JD(S) legislators are in touch with opposition leader Siddaramaiah as they believe a switch to the Congress could boost their career.

JD(S) state president HK Kumaraswamy said he will be in the party’s head office throughout the week to prepare the ground for bypolls and resolve differences, if any, among the state leaders. “We will make amends, if required,” he added.

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News Network
August 7,2020

Bengaluru, Aug 7: Amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Karnataka, the state's health department issued fresh guidelines for the disposal of bodies of COVID patients.

"Although an increased risk of COVID infection from a dead body to health workers or family members who follow standard precautions while handling the body is unlikely, the lack of scientific data requires the utmost care to avoid the inadvertent spread of COVID-19 during these times," the statement from the health department's press release read, emphasising on the dignity of the dead and the religious and cultural tradition.

The 23-page press release elaborated on guidelines regarding testing, handling of dead bodies and other specificities in relation to the management of COVID-19 bodies.

"Testing should not be insisted in every case of death, but only when they have a recorded history of influenza-like symptoms. The body should be handed over to the family members/ relatives in a dignified manner immediately after swab collection and hospitals should provide handouts with a list of dos and don'ts in English and Kannada laying down relevant information," the statement said.

It added, "At the mortuary, health care workers, mortuary staff and the family of the deceased body shall not come in direct contact with the dead body and must wear full personal protective equipment (PPE). If the family or relative are for any reason unable to cremate or bury the body, the local health authority shall arrange for the dignified last rites as per the religious traditions of the family."

Regarding autopsies (post mortem) on COVID-19 bodies, the state department said that they should be avoided, except in necessary circumstances.

The statement also gave detailed guidelines regarding the appropriate recording of COVID-19 deaths in line with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines.

Additionally, the health department made a statement about the admission procedure for COVID positive patients referred by other district administrations saying, "It is now mandatory for all the referrals from the BBMP admission and discharge of COVID positive patients to be done through the online COVID Hospital Bed Management System (CHBMS)."

The state's count of coronavirus cases was 1,51,449 in the past 24 hours.

So far, a total of 2,804 people have died due to COVID-19 in the state, while the average recovery rate in Karnataka is 49.3 per cent.

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News Network
May 11,2020

Bengaluru, May 11: Ten new positive cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Karnataka, taking the total number of infections in the state to 858, the Health department said on Monday.

"Ten new positive cases have been reported from last evening to this noon... Till date 858 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed. This includes 31 deaths and 422 discharges," the department said in its mid-day situation update. 

The ten new cases include- three from Davangere, two each from Bidar and Bagalkote, one each from Kalaburagi, Shiggavi in Haveri and Vijayapura. Seven cases are men, three are women.

While most cases are contacts of patients already tested positive, one each are with travel history to Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

One person's contact tracing is underway. 

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coastaldigest.com news network
May 9,2020

Dubai, May 9: A flight scheduled to bring back Kannadigas, especially Mangalureans stranded in Dubai on May 14 has been rescheduled to May 12.

The flight will take off from Dubai at 4.10 pm UAE time and reach Mangaluru International Airport at 9.10 pm IST on May 12, announced Union Minister DV Sadananda Gowda in a tweet.

The flight was earlier scheduled for May 12 and then it was postponed to May 14. Now, it has been rescheduled to May 12.

It is said that constant persuasion from NRIs in UAE led to advance the paid evacuation drive.

In fact, Karnataka was missing in the list of states to receive special flights when Ministry of External Affairs arranged them to bring stranded Indians at UAE. Special flights were arranged only to Kerala and Tamil Nadu people stranded at UAE in the first stage.

Thanks to Karnataka NRI Forum of UAE which opened helpline to seek assistance to Kannadigas, nearly 2000 Kannadigas have registered for assistance in which 127 pregnant women, 27 senior citizens, 700 people who have lost jobs aftermath of coronavirus sought assistance from NRI forum.

In the first flight, priority will be given to people with medical emergency and pregnant women. Once the passengers reach Mangaluru, they will be quarantined in their home districts.

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