Misusing religion for political gains is unacceptable: Siddaramaiah tells BJP

Bengaluru, Aug 4: Janata Dal (Secular) leader and MLA Satyanarayana passed away today due to multiple organ failure. He was 67.

Satyanarayana was representing Tumakuru’s Sira constituency in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. He is survived by five daughters and one son.

It is learnt that he was suffering from multiple organ ailments from the past few days and was recently admitted to Manipal Hospital in the city. He breathed his last at 12:20 p.m.

He contested from JDS and worked three times as MLA and 2 times as MP. He was the chairman of KSRTC during the coalition government led by HD Kumaraswamy.

Former Prime Minister HD Devegowda mourned his death and said, “It is a shock to hear the demise of former minister and my close friend. We are friends from the past 3 decades and I cannot recall the days without him.”

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President DK Shivakumar said, “Satyanarayana was concerned for the farmers and he was a gentleman. Hearing the news hurts me and this is an irreparable loss to the political field.”

Mandya, July 30: BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel on Wednesday said Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has done a commendable job in tackling the Covid-19 situation and floods and that the question of changing the leadership does not arise.

Karnataka on Wednesday reported 5,503 new cases of Covid-19 and 92 related fatalities, taking the total number of infections to 1,12,504 and the death toll to 2,147.

Speaking to reporters here, Kateel said, "Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi has gone to Delhi to discuss the projects sanctioned to state with the central minister. There is no need to read too much into it."

Replying to a query on graft charges against the BSY government by the Congress, Kateel said, "Congress national president, state unit president are out on bail in graft cases . Why did a Congress leader who calls himself a bande (rock) has approached court seeking stay on CBI probe? Before making any allegations against the government, they should think about 'irregularities' in Indira Canteen and housing schemes," he charged.

Instead of instilling confidence and hope among the people in these testing times, the Congress is unnecessarily creating fear with petty politics, he told reporters in Shravanabelagola, Hassan district.

"The Yediyurappa-led BJP government is working day and night to tackle the Covid-19. Similarly, several non-governmental organisations have joined hands with the government in the fight against the virus. But, the Congress is only creating confusion by issuing baseless statements," Kateel said.