Congress using COVID-19 probe as weapon against BJP: MP K Sudhakar
Chikkaballapura (Karnataka), Nov 15: BJP MP K Sudhakar on Friday accused the Congress government of using the investigation into COVID-19 management during the BJP regime as a "political tool" against his party.
The Congress government, based on the recommendation of Justice John Michael D’Cunha, has initiated an investigation into alleged irregularities in COVID-19 management under the BJP’s administration.
“Let them investigate. They have turned investigations into weapons against us. We are ready for any probe. We worked with conscience and saved lives during COVID-19, while Congress leaders stayed indoors,” Sudhakar told reporters.
He defended the previous BJP government’s handling of the pandemic, highlighting the risks taken by officials and health department employees during the crisis.
Sudhakar criticised the Congress for altering the scope of the investigation, noting that the D’Cunha Commission had only submitted an interim report.
“The investigation is incomplete. Based on a preliminary inquiry report, a cabinet sub-committee led by Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar was formed. Within a month, they have also ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT),” he said.
Responding to Congress allegations that the BJP government purchased PPE kits at Rs 2,100 each from China and Hong Kong instead of locally available kits priced at Rs 330, Sudhakar questioned the availability of PPE kits at the time.
“Where were the PPE kits? The then Chief Minister Yediyurappa and Health Minister Sriramulu procured them through discussions with the Centre and imports from China,” he said.
Sudhakar dismissed the Congress’s claims as "politically motivated", and alleged that the party aims to "tarnish" BJP leaders’ reputations.
“The Congress wants to portray BJP leaders as villains, but this will not benefit them. The wheel of time keeps turning, and we will see where they stand when it does,” he remarked.
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State govt has funds in SDRF for Wayanad rehabilitation: Centre to Kerala HC
Kochi, Nov 15: The Centre on Friday informed the Kerala High Court that money for Wayanad rehabilitation was available in the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and information regarding allocation of any additional funds for it will be conveyed by the end of the month.
The submission from the central government came during the hearing of a plea initiated by the High Court for prevention and management of natural disasters in the state in the wake of the landslides that devastated three villages in Wayanad district of Kerala.
The state government on the other hand told the court that the Centre in a letter has said it will not allocate any more funds, than what has already been allocated, for the rehabilitation of the disaster victims.
It claimed that no positive assurance has been received from the Centre.
A bench of justices A K Jayasankaran Nambiar and K V Jayakumar, however, did not agree with the state's stand and questioned whether it was based on media reports.
The bench told the state government that the Centre has not said that it will not provide more assistance.
It said that while news reports may appear to indicate that nothing will be provided, if you look at the details, it does not seem so.
The state's contentions were based on news reports and the letter received from the Centre.
The Centre in a letter to the state had said that under the existing guidelines of SDRF and NDRF, there is no provision to declare any calamity a 'national disaster'.
The matter will be heard next on Friday, the court said.
