Youth bags job in Dubai; jailed for carrying neighbour's parcel

Davanagere, Jul 4: Referring to allegations made by former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's charge about corruption while purchasing COVID-19 equipment, Health Minister B Sriramulu said the state government is ready for any kind of probe in this regard.

Speaking to media persons here on Saturday, he said the government has maintained accounts for each purchase of equipment related to Covid-19. 

"So, Congress leader's allegations are far from the truth. Siddaramaiah has vast political experience. It is unbecoming of such a leader to make ridiculous allegations. The government is ready to release white paper on purchase of equipment related to Covid-19," he said.

He said Karnataka stands third in the country in collection of throat swabs and examination of people related to Covid-19. The entire country has hailed Karnataka's role in containing Covid-19, Sriramulu he added.

Bengaluru, Apr 1: The price of petrol and diesel will go up by Rs 1.60 and Rs 1.59 per litre, respectively, from Wednesday. This is in line with Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa’s decision to hike the rate of tax on petrol from 32% to 35% and diesel from 21% to 24%.

He had announced this in his March 5 Budget for 2020-21 fiscal. At present, a litre of petrol costs Rs 71.97 and diesel Rs 64.41 in Bengaluru.

The government decided to roll out the hike from Tuesday midnight going into Wednesday, April 1, after briefly considering a postponement in view of the COVID-19 crisis. 

Finance Secretary (Budget & Resources) Ekroop Caur confirmed to DH that the hike will be rolled out. 

The 3% hike on fuel tax was a key resource mobilisation measure that Yediyurappa announced in his Budget. The hike is expected to fetch the government Rs 1,500 crore. 

Yediyurappa had also announced a 6% additional excise duty on Indian Made Liquor (IML), which could help the government mop up Rs 1,200 crore. However, the sale of liquor has been prohibited during the lockdown period. Plus, hiking fuel prices during the lockdown will not hit citizens very hard. 

Bengaluru, April 5: Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Sunday urged the people to follow the countrywide lockdown strictly amid the rise of COVID-19 cases on Sunday, and said that he has been receiving complaints of people violating the restrictions.

"Everyone knows the damage caused by the COVID- 19 infection around the world. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a nationwide lockdown till April 14 for the protection of people's lives. Even in our state, Bidar, Mysore, Mangalore, Bengaluru and Kalaburagi districts have witnessed a rise in the coronavirus cases day by day," Yediyurappa said.

"The government has taken a number of precautionary measures to control the spread of coronavirus including the closure of borders for public, restrictions on publicly trafficked areas and religious places. The people of the state have to strictly follow the lockdown mandate," he added.

"I have received a lot of complaints about lockdown not being followed effectively. Please remember that the key to ending the lockdown is in your hands. Only you can break the chain by strictly adhering to the restrictions," the CM tweeted.

Earlier on Saturday, 16 people tested positive for coronavirus in Karnataka, taking the total number of cases to 144 in the state.

The total number of COVID-19 positive cases rose to 3,374 in India on Sunday, as per the data provided the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.