Yediyurappa wins floor test, to continue as Chief Minister

Bengaluru, Jul 3: Opposition leader in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday opined that there is no other option left but to resort to 'Jail Bharo' agitation to expose the ruling BJP government's indulge in 'Corona Corruption' which runs into more than Rs 2000 crore.

Siddaramaiah said that according to a submission to the Karnataka High Court the government has submitted that it has incurred Rs 3,392 crore expenditure for Corona in the State so far. While the market price for equipment purchased will not exceed Rs 1163 crore and it clearly shows that the corruption is to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore.

Siddaramaiah speaking to a private TV channel here on Friday said the chief minister B S Yediyurappa-led State government should come out with a White Paper on the money spent for purchases made facilities provided to patients. 

According to submission to the Court, the Government has purchased 1000 Ventilators by paying Rs 120 crore, while the market price is Rs 40 crores at Rs 4 lakh for each Ventilator. Why is Rs 120 crore more paid, does it not lead to doubt the government's claim. For purchase of kits, mask, gloves etc. it amounted to Rs 1,500 crores but paid by the government was Rs 9,000 crore."

Bengaluru, Mar 23: The Karnataka government on Monday decided to purchase 1,000 ventilators from medical devices company Skanray Technologies and five lakh Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), amid rising COVID-19 cases.

Health Minister B Sriramulu convened a meeting with officials to review the situation in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, and with the Mysuru-based firm through a video conference.

"In the meeting, it was decided to buy 1,000 ventilators immediately", the Minister tweeted.

He said the government has already taken steps to buy ten lakh masks, and decided to purchase five lakh PPE.

"The Health Department has been working on a war- footing to halt the spread of the (COVID-19) infections", Sriramulu tweeted.

The Minister appealed to the citizens to strictly follow social distancing.

Six new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Karnataka on Sunday, taking the total number of infections to the respiratory disease to 26 -- the highest number of positive cases in a single day in the State.

The Karnataka government has announced shutdown of all commercial activities barring essential services in nine districts, where COVID-19 cases have been reported, till March 31.

They are: Bengaluru city, Bengaluru Rural, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Kalaburagi, Dharwad, Chikkaballapura, Kodagu and Belagavi, Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai said.

Bengaluru, Feb 23: Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers DV Sadananda Gowda on Sunday said that several "anti-national organisations" were misusing the platform of anti-CAA protests.

"We have taken serious note of it and have started an investigation. Several anti-national organisations are misusing the platform of anti-CAA protests and many people are trying to take political advantage of this situation," he told the media on Sunday.

Gowda said that the government is "very serious" about the issue. "We are already working towards this. Both the state and Centre are together investigating into this," he said and added, "We will ensure that we cut this and will not allow this to grow. We will investigate the organisers of the event as well."

"If you are inviting such people (alleged anti-national elements), it means that you either know about it or that you are indirectly encouraging such things. In such situations, the organisers too will be acted upon," he stressed.