'Not consulted' over key appointments in boards, corporations, says Home Minister G Parameshwara
Bengaluru: Even as deliberations are on to finalise the appointment of Congress legislators and workers to key positions in various state-run boards and corporations, some senior leaders have expressed discontent, with Home Minister G Parameshwara openly saying he was not consulted.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, however, tried to clarify, saying that no leader has been contacted, as the process is still in the ''preliminary stage''.
Congress General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala is in the city today to discuss the exercise with the party's state leadership. He had been here last week as well for such a meeting.
The appointments are among the issues on which Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have certain differences of opinion, according to party sources.
Speaking to reporters, Home Minister Parameshwara said in response to a question: ''No, I have not been consulted. If consulted, it would have been good. I was party president for eight years and could have given suggestions as to who would be politically beneficial in the current situation and also on seniority.'' He continued, ''They (party leadership) too are aware of it, but if we were also consulted it would have been good. They may finally decide after taking the high command's consent; let them do it.'' The minister also said he was not aware of when the list would be finalised. There has been some disgruntlement and growing impatience within a section of the Congress party. Some legislators who did not make it to the cabinet and were aspiring for key posts in boards and corporations are unhappy about the delay in appointments.
Other party members are also upset about the ''delay in rewarding loyal workers'' despite the Congress having been in power for more than six months now. Responding to a question on Parameshwara's comments, Siddaramaiah said, ''Not only Parameshwara, no one's opinion has been taken yet. It (discussion) is still at the preliminary stage... The list has not yet been finalised, so for me to comment on it will not be right.'' Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress President D K Shivakumar said discussions about the appointments are on. The list, once finalised, would be sent to the party's high command for approval, he added.
''It is our routine work, it's party work... He (Surjewala) was busy (all these days). We have held two to three rounds of meetings. Today also we will be meeting. The list has to go to Delhi. After that, we will make the information known,'' Shivakumar told reporters here in response to a question on his meeting with Surjewala.
The party's state unit president had recently indicated that about 15 to 20 party MLAs and MLCs would be accommodated in key positions, and the rest of the posts would be distributed among loyal party workers.
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“Bleeding on the road, I begged for help but no one came”: Bengaluru woman recounts husband’s death
Bengaluru: A woman in Bengaluru has shared a painful account of how her husband died after they were repeatedly denied medical help and ignored by passersby during a medical emergency, NDTV reported.
The victim, 34-year-old Venkataramanan, a garage mechanic from Balaji Nagar, developed severe chest pain around 3.30 am. His wife immediately took him on a motorcycle in search of medical help.
"He complained about chest pain, and we went to the first hospital. However, the doctor was not on duty. At the second hospital, we were told he had a stroke and to go to another hospital. When we called for ambulance services, they did not respond properly. Humanity failed, but we did our bit by donating his eye." NDTV quoted his wife as saying.
According to the report, after being turned away twice, the couple met with an accident on the road. CCTV footage later showed the woman, covered in blood, pleading with folded hands as vehicles passed by, but no one stopped to help.
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The wait ended after several minutes when a cab driver stopped and rushed Venkataramanan to a nearby hospital. Doctors there declared him dead on arrival.
As per the report, the family decided to donate Venkataramanan’s eyes, giving sight to others even in death.
Venkataraman's mother, who had lost her last surviving child, had no words to express herself: "I have no words. I do not know what to say. My son is gone."
"The government should understand a health emergency. My daughter is left with two children. Who will look after them?" asked his mother-in-law. His wife, mother, and two children, a five-year-old son and an 18-month-old daughter now survive Venkataramanan.
The incident has once again raised serious questions about emergency healthcare access, ambulance response, and public apathy in the city.
