Netizens target BJP after video of Sangh Parivar ‘man’ in burqa goes viral

Bengaluru, May 12: Former chief minister and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said that the Central and Karnataka government have failed in containing the coronavirus spread despite having enough time for preparations.

"Central and state government failed in properly controlling COVID-19. The first coronavirus case was reported in Kerala on January 30. Lockdown was imposed on March 24. Both Centre and state had enough time for preparations," Siddaramaiah said in a press meet here.

He said that the Central government did not stop the airline services on time.

"Karnataka government might have been able to stop COVID-19 properly. However, both the state and central government are playing politics over the issue and blaming Tablighi Jamaat for the spread, which is a political strategy painted by the RSS," Siddaramaiah said.

"Who gave the licence to Tablighi's international convention? Who gave them permission in Delhi? They didn't control it. Central government is directly responsible for the increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases in India," he added.

Siddaramaiah said that the lockdown was imposed without any preparation, which he said caused huge problems for the migrant workers across the country.

"Now, the government is collecting ticket fare and looting migrant workers. They don't have jobs or food, they don't have money, and they earn every day to survive. How will they pay for the tickets? Why the government is not arranging for free trains?" the Congress leader said.

He said that around Rs 35,000 crore have been credited to PM CARES fund, Rs 3,000 crore of which was credited from Karnataka alone. "Why are they not using that money?" he asked.

Siddaramaiah said that the party is demanding for the Centre to arrange for migrant workers to return to their native places across the country free of cost.

"We asked Chief Minister to call an all party meeting. We gave many suggestions, which this government did not consider. We also took a delegation and gave a memorandum about farmers, daily wage workers, road side vendors, barbers, problems faced by the unorganized sector. But this government didn't consider any of it," he said.

Questioning the Central government's suggestion to States to amend their Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Acts, Siddaramaiah said that the move is against the federal system of the country and claimed that it harms the interests of small scale farmers.

He said that the BJP-led state government has also decided to postpone the Gram panchayat elections in the state and is trying to nominate their party workers for village panchayat elections.

"The Government must continue with the present members of the Gram panchayat. If BJP tries to nominate their party members to village panchayats, we will take to streets to protest despite the lockdown," Siddaramaiah added.

Mangaluru, Jun 29: As many as 49 fresh covid-19 cases were reported in Dakshina Kannada district in past 24 hours taking the district’s tally to 568.

At the same time 38 persons were also discharged from the hospital after complete recovery from covid 19.

Out of the 49 positive cases, 14 persons had returned from Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar. 17 persons had contracted the disease from patient number 9590. 3 persons are suffering from an influenza-like illness (ILI), and 4 persons are suffering from Severe Acute Respiratory Infection.

The health officials are tracing the contacts of six others. All the 49 persons have been shifted to hospital for treatment. Most of them are said to be asymptomatic.

Mangaluru, July 1: The district administration has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 in entire Dakshina Kannada between 8pm and 5am in the entire month of July.

Notice in this regard was issued today by Deputy Commissioner Sindhu B Roopesh. The order will come into force with immediate and will be in place ill July 31, the DC said.

The decision was taken days after Karnataka government took steps to tighten covid restriction and imposed lockdown from 8pm to 5am. 

Under the imposed Section 144, the presence or movement of one or more persons in public places are prohibited. Besides, the gathering of any sort anywhere, including religious places subject to certain conditions in view of the COVID-19 pandemic will also be restricted.