No development, corruption at peak in Karnataka, alleges BJP's Vijayendra
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra on Saturday lashed out at the Siddaramaiah-led government, alleging that there was absolutely zero development in the state while corruption was at its peak.
He said the BJP would continue to "expose" the state government and its "failures".
Listing a series of issues, the BJP chief said the Congress dispensation headed by Siddaramaiah had failed on multiple fronts, be it the Dharmasthala issue, the hate speech Bill, the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede incident, the liquor policy or corruption-related cases.
Speaking to reporters here, Vijayendra alleged that corruption in the state had increased. There was a detection of Rs 14.5 crore of wealth from Sarfaraz Khan, who is considered close to Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan and is on deputation in the Karnataka Housing Department.
ALSO READ: Probe ordered into Giant wheel accident in Mangaluru
He also referred to the alleged ST Development scam, which took place during the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
The Valmiki Development Corporation scam in Karnataka involved the misappropriation of around Rs 94 crore meant for Scheduled Tribes' welfare, with funds illegally transferred from Union Bank of India accounts to fake entities, implicating top officials, including former Minister Nagendra, in creating fake accounts and using funds for personal gain and elections.
"There is absolutely no development and there is highest level of corruption in Karnataka. There is zero progress and zero development,” he alleged.
Vijayendra further accused the state government of repeatedly blaming the Centre to “cover up its failures”, saying it claims that the central government is doing injustice to Karnataka.
Referring to the Hate Speech Bill passed by both Houses of the legislature in the recently concluded Assembly session in Belagavi, he alleged that the Siddaramaiah government was trying to suppress criticism and compared the move to the Emergency imposed in 1975 by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
"Why this hate speech bill? Because the Siddaramaiah government is unable to face the truth. They are trying to bring emergency. What happened in 1975 when Indira Gandhi brought emergency? the same policy has been followed by Siddaramaiah government. They are trying to attack media persons, they are also trying to stop social media users... They don't want any criticism," he said.
"We (BJP) are going to expose this Congress government, the failures of the Congress government, corruption of the Congress government. Corruption has gone to the peak," he alleged.
According to Vijayendra, investors were moving away from Karnataka due to what he termed the “anti-investor policies” of the state government.
Ather Electric scooters, Google and aerospace industries, which had earlier invested in Karnataka, were now moving away because of the state government’s "anti-investor policy".
"Youths are getting affected by this loss of employment. Inspite of this, nobody should question the state government. Is this democracy? Hence, we are questioning the state government and we want to expose this Congress government and its failures also," he added.
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.
MP HC sets up judicial commission to probe water contamination in Indore
Indore (PTI): The Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday set up a commission of inquiry comprising a former HC judge to probe the issue of water contamination in city's Bhagirathpura, saying the matter requires probe by an independent, credible authority and "urgent judicial scrutiny".
It also directed the commission to submit an interim report after four weeks from the date of commencement of proceedings.
A division bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi constituted the commission while hearing several public interest litigations (PILs) filed simultaneously regarding the deaths of several people in Bhagirathpura due to the consumption of contaminated water.
The HC reserved the order after hearing all the parties during the day, and released it late at night.
The state government on Tuesday told the HC that the deaths of 16 people in Indore's Bhagirathpura area was possibly linked to a month-long outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The government presented an audit report of 23 deaths from the current gastroenteritis epidemic in Bhagirathpura before the bench, suggesting that 16 of these fatalities may have been linked to the outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The report, prepared by a committee of five experts from the city's Government Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, stated that the deaths of four people in Bhagirathpura were unrelated to the outbreak, while no conclusion could be reached regarding the cause of death of three other people in the area.
During the hearing, the high court sought to know from the state government the scientific basis behind its report.
The division bench also expressed surprise at the state government's use of the term "verbal autopsy" in relation to the report, sarcastically stating that it had heard the term for the first time.
The HC expressed concern over the Bhagirathpura case, stating that the situation was "alarming," and noted that cases of people falling ill due to contaminated drinking water have also been reported in Mhow, near Indore.
In its order, the HC said the serious issue concerning contamination of the drinking water supply in Bhagirathpura area allegedly resulted in widespread health hazards to residents, including children and elderly persons.
According to the petitioners and media reports, death toll is about 30 till today, but the report depicts only 16 without any basis or record, it said.
It is averred that sewage mixing, leakage in the pipeline, and failure of civic authorities to maintain potable water standards have led to the outbreak of water-borne diseases. Photographs, medical reports, and complaints submitted to the authorities prima facie indicate a matter requiring urgent judicial scrutiny, the HC said.
"Considering the gravity of the allegation and affecting the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and the need for an independent fact-finding exercise, the Court is of the opinion that the matter requires investigation by an independent, credible authority," it said.
"Accordingly, we appoint Justice Sushil Kumar Gupta, former judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, a one-man commission of inquiry into the issues relating to water contamination in Bhagirathpura, Indore, and its impact on other areas of the city," the HC added.
As per the order, the commission shall inquire into and submit a report on the cause of contamination -- whether the drinking water supplied to Bhagirathpura was contaminated; and the source and nature of contamination (sewage ingress, industrial discharge, pipeline damage etc).
The panel will also probe the number of actual deaths of affected residents on account of contaminated water; find out the nature of disease reported and adequacy of medical response and preventive measures; suggest immediate steps required to ensure safe drinking water as well as long-term infrastructural and monitoring reforms.
It will also identify and fix responsibility upon the officers and officials found prima facie responsible for the Bhagirathpura water contamination incident, and suggest guidelines for compensation to affected residents, particularly vulnerable sections.
The commission shall have powers of a civil court for the purpose of summoning officials and witnesses; calling up records from the government department, hospitals, laboratories and civic bodies; ordering water quality testing through accredited laboratories; conducting spot inspections.
All state authorities involving district administration, Indore Municipal Corporation, public health engineering department and Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board shall extend full co-operation and provide records as sought by the commission, it said.
The state government shall provide office space, staff, and logistical support to the commission, it said.
During the hearing in the day, the state government also presented a status report to the court in this matter.
According to reports, a total of 454 patients were admitted to local hospitals during the vomiting and diarrhea outbreak, of whom 441 have been discharged after treatment, and 11 are currently hospitalised.
According to officials, due to a leak in the municipal drinking water pipeline in Bhagirathpura, sewage from a toilet was also mixed in the water.
