No question of taking disqualified MLAs back: Siddaramaiah

News Network
October 17, 2019

Bengaluru, Oct 17: Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah ruled out absorbing any of the 13 disqualified MLAs into the party fold on Thursday, insisting doors will remain shut for them. The former chief minister was speaking to reporters after meeting AICC president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi.

Siddaramaiah’s clarification came following rumours that some disqualified MLAs including N Munirathna and ST Somashekhar were keen on returning and had sent out feelers to Congress leaders.

“The Congress has already taken a decision in this regard and we will stand by it,” Siddaramaiah said. “They will not be taken back.”

The Congress had expelled all 13 disqualified MLAs after efforts to get them to withdraw their resignations — which resulted in the collapse of Congress-JD(S) coalition government — failed. Asked if some of the defeated BJP candidates, who are knocking on the doors of Congress, would be inducted, the former CM said a decision will be taken after consulting party workers in the respective constituencies. Reports suggest BJP leaders like Raju Kage, Sharath Bachhegowda, UB Banakar and Nandeesh Reddy, who were defeated in the 2018 assembly polls, could join the Congress if they are denied tickets by the BJP to contest the bypolls.

“As of now there is no such proposal,” Siddaramaiah said. “If someone from the BJP wants to join Congress, the party will take a decision after consulting party workers.” He also said that the party has already finalised candidates for the December 5 byelections expect in “two or three” seats.

On his visit to Delhi, Siddaramaiah said he called on Sonia to congratulate her on being appointed AICC president and also to thank her for entrusting him with the responsibility of the post of opposition leader in assembly.

“During the meeting, the bypolls did come up for discussion and I have promised Sonia that Karnataka Congress unit will work to bring the party back to power in the state. I owe this to the party,” he said.

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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 21,2020

Shivamogga, May 21: A quarantine facility at Bapuji Nagar in Shivamogga on Wednesday evening was vandalised, by a group of people. leading to chaos.

The police had to resort to baton-charge to control the situation.

Locals were opposing the facility, which is being used to isolate travellers from different states in the view of coronavirus.

Deputy Commissioner KB Sivakumar said that the police department will investigate and book a case against the protesters.

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News Network
June 6,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 6: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Saturday said hotels and restaurants would be allowed to re-open, but the precautionary measures laid down by the Centre against coronavirus were mandatory.

The Chief Minister on Friday held a meeting with the tourism and transport department, also stakeholders, regarding revival of tourism in the state.

Hotels associations and transport companies have said they would follow the guidelines issued by the government, an official press release said here.

The Karnataka government had said it would go by the Centre's direction on opening religious places of worship, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants and other hospitality services on June 8.

Buses, hotels and taxi owners association placed some demands at the meeting, the release said, adding that Yediyurappa informed them that he would examine their demands and take appropriate decisions.

The Chief Minister also released a handout regarding the guidelines that need to be followed as the tourism department is opening hotels, guest houses and tourist destinations.

Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi, Tourism Minister C T Ravi and senior officials of the department participated in the meeting.

The government had, on Thursday, said safaris, trekking, jungle lodges and resorts in areas that fall outside the COVID-19 containment zones can re-open provided they adhere to social distancing, hygiene as issued by the governments.

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