D K Shivakumar accuses Karnataka govt of giving false COVID positive reports, seeks judicial probe
Ramanagara, Jan 10: Accusing the BJP government in Karnataka of giving false COVID-19 positive reports, aimed at creating trouble for his party's ongoing padayatra (march), by citing rise in cases, Congress Karnataka president D K Shivakumar on Monday demanded a judicial probe into it.
He also alleged there is a conspiracy to somehow declare him COVID positive to scuttle the march.
The Congress had commenced its 10-day padayatra on Sunday demanding implementation of the Mekedatu project across the Cauvery river, despite the COVID-19 restrictions.
"The Karnataka government is conspiring against me and my party to somehow stop this padayatra, it is their main programme....last night Assistant Deputy Commissioner (ADC) was sent to me to get me tested and get my positive report," Shivakumar said.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines on the second day of the padayatra, he said, "They (govt) are giving false positive reports, so there should be an inquiry...they are trying to end the life of the people by imposing restrictions for the sake of politics. I demand a judicial probe on the numbers being reported."
"The rising positivity rate is BJP's. It is BJP's positive, BJP's COVID, BJP's Omicron, BJP's lockdown and curfew. Despite people not having the disease, they are creating one," he claimed, even as the state on Sunday registered a spike in numbers, by reporting 12,000 new cases.
Further alleging a conspiracy to get him COVID infected or positive certificate, the KPCC chief said, according to his information the ADC who came and met him last night is now corona infected.
"He is the primary contact or something. Then why did they (BJP govt) send that officer to me? Where did they learn this trick? They somehow want to create trouble. Why do they want to do such petty politics?" he asked.
Asked why he suspected, even before the test, that officials will give his positive report, he said, "Don't we get information? I have all the information of the bureaucracy, the Ministers and officials share information with me."
Meanwhile, a viral video of Shivakumar purportedly reprimanding officials who wanted to test him for COVID-19, last evening, has gone viral.
".....I'm fit and fine. You can't compel me. I know the law of this land, Shivakumar can be heard telling officials including the ADC, in a high tone.
Hitting back at Shivakumar for his behaviour with officials, Chief Minister Bommai said it shows his culture.
"We (govt) are concerned about his health, not only him but all others who walked along with him for a long distance yesterday. Checking their health is the duty and generosity of the Health Department, without understanding it, he has behaved, can't do much about it, it's his culture," he said.
Meanwhile, police have registered FIR against nearly 30 Congress leaders and others including Shivakumar, leader of opposition in the state assembly Siddaramaiah and Bengaluru Rural MP D K Suresh for taking part in the padayatra, defying COVID-19 curbs.
Reacting to this, Shivakumar claimed that curfew wasn't followed in many parts of the state and no cases have been booked against BJP leaders who violated COVID rules, while FIRs have been registered against 30 people who participated in the Congress' padayatra.
Further stating that he has advised the Congress' Legal cell to look into the government not taking action against BJP leaders who violated the rules, he said, "this is a political fight, fight against injustice....if cases are not registered, we will fight against it."
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
