Stop daydreaming, Zameer Ahmed tells BJP leaders
Bengaluru, October 14: Food and Civil Supplies Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan said that state BJP leaders have been day dreaming for power.
Speaking at a felicitation programme to MLC Venugopal, organized by the Jayanagar Citizens Forum at Jayanagar here on Sunday, the Minister said that the BJP leaders have been predicting the collapse of Congress-JDS coalition government after the by-election. But the coalition government would be safe for five years. So, it was better that the BJP leaders should stop daydreaming for power, he said.
Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy who protected the interests of the farmers by waiving off their loans, has been giving good administration. Unable to tolerate his popularity, the BJP leaders have been making false accusations, he said.
Kumaraswamy would remain as the Chief Minister for next five years without any doubt. The Coalition government would toil hard for the welfare of the state and sustainable development was the prime objective of Congress. In view of this, the Congress high command has given up the chief minister post to Kumaraswamy, he said.
KPCC President Dinesh Gundu Rao said that the Congress would identify even the marginal community and provide position, for which, M.C. Venugopal from Savitha Samaj was an example. After successfully handling various responsibilities, Venugopal had organized the party in Bengaluru. So, the MLC position was given to him. Let him organize the party further in coming days, he said.
MLA Soumya Reddy said that Venugopal was instrumental in her victory in Jayanagar constituency. He had sacrificed his constituency for her. So, she would always be grateful to him, she said.
Former minister Ramalinga Reddy, Kendra Sahitya Academy President Dr. Chandrashekar Kambara and Kuvempu Bhasha Bharati Authority President Dr. K. Marulasiddappa were present.
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Karnataka procured 16 lakh expired RT-PCR kits during Covid wave: D’Cunha commission
Bengaluru: Justice John Michael D’Cunha’s committee has uncovered significant irregularities in the procurement of medical supplies during the Covid-19 pandemic, revealing that more than 16 lakh RT-PCR test kits purchased by Karnataka in 2022 under the BJP-led government were either expired or close to their expiry dates.
After irregularities in PPE kit purchases, ventilators have also come under the scanner, with the report highlighting discrepancies amounting to Rs 173.26 crore in purchases made by the Medical Education Department.
The commission has also found that the Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Ltd. (KSMSCL) that cancelled a supply order for one lakh Rapid Antigen (RAT) kits placed with a Singapore-based company in March 2020 — for delay in supplying — has not recovered the Rs 6.99 crore paid to the company towards the order, as reported by The Hindu on Thursday.
According to the 279-page report on procurements made by the KSMSCL that is compiled in part IV of the report, a payment of Rs 148.84 crore was made by KSMSCL to various suppliers and firms towards procurement of RT-PCR kits from 2020 to 2022.
The Commission’s report, as cited by the publication, stated that there were records indicating procurement of RT-PCR kits, RNA extraction kits and Viral transport media (VTM) of a total value of Rs 106.25 crore during the pandemic in Karnataka. However, according to the report, this procurement was made without administrative approval.
“Since the KSMSCL has failed to discharge its obligation and responsibility, the loss caused to the State exchequer to this extent is required to be replenished by the erring officers and/or officials of the KSMSCL as well as the officers and/or officials of the consignee designated laboratories who received the consignment,” the report said, pegging the losses due to expired kits supplied by companies at Rs 3.11 crore.
In response to the report’s findings, state Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao criticised the saffron party for profiting from the pandemic. He promised accountability for the irregularities involving PPE kits and ventilators, stating that those responsible would face punishment.
