Erdogan extends two-decade rule as Turkey President after win in historic runoff polls
Istanbul: Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday appealed to the people to maintain national unity, after winning a historic election and retaining the seat till 2028.
Erdogan won with a 52 per cent majority in the elections, beating his secular opposition challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu by four per cent points.
Erdogan, aged 69 years, has been President of Turkey for two decades and overcame the nation’s worst economic crisis in a generation. He also faced the most powerful opposition alliance against his party, which is rooted in Islam, while fighting the election, reports NDTV.
People expressed their delight at the President’s victory, coming out on the streets and sounding their jubilation.
With huge crowds of supporters gathering all over Turkey, the traffic on Taksim Square, a major point in Istanbul, came to a halt.
Erdogan, meanwhile, led a horde of supporters in celebratory song outside his palace in Ankara.
The President told the crowd that was chanting and waving flags, “We should come together in unity and solidarity. We call for this with all our heart.”
Seventeen-year-old Nisa Sivaslioglu said, “Our people chose the right man. I expect Erdogan to add more to the good things he has already done for our country.”
Messages of congratulation also poured in from across the world.
US President Joe Biden tweeted, “I look forward to continuing to work together as NATO Allies on bilateral issues and shared global challenges.”
UN head Antonio Guterres said through a spokesperson that he ‘looked forward to further strengthening the cooperation between Turkiye and the United Nations’.
Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, said that the outcome of the elections reflected the support from the people for Erdogan’s efforts to strengthen the sovereignty of the nation and to pursue an independent foreign policy.
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky expressed a hope of continuing to work with Erdogan ‘for the security and stability of Europe’.
Other leaders from across the world, including former US President Donald Trump congratulated Erdogan on his victory.
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Vijayendra slams Cong govt over alleged medicine shortage, irregularities in health dept
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra on Wednesday hit out at the Congress government over alleged medicine shortages, large-scale irregularities and disruption of services in the health department.
The situation had deteriorated to such an extent that doctors were forced to protest on the streets, he claimed.
Addressing a press conference here, he said the Siddaramaiah-led government lacked the will to resolve pressing public issues and accused it of indulging in "blame politics" instead of governance.
"Due to the irresponsibility of this Congress government, the health department itself is in the ICU. There is a severe shortage of medicines in government hospitals. The 108 ambulance services are facing severe problems. Doctors have been pushed to the streets to protest. The Congress government celebrates 1,000 days in power with achievement conventions, but it has failed to solve real problems," he said.
He criticised the state government for allegedly shutting down Jan Aushadhi centres located on government hospital premises, claiming that needy patients are suffering as they are not getting medicines.
"For the past two months, government doctors themselves have been advising poor patients to buy medicines from private pharmacies because medicines are unavailable in hospitals," he alleged.
Vijayendra further alleged that the state government has reportedly not cleared Rs 143 crore in dues to institutions providing CT scan and MRI services.
"As a result, needy patients in rural and urban areas are unable to access these services. Pregnant women are facing hardships. Doctors are forced to protest on the streets...This government claims to be one that delivers on its promises. But does it have even the slightest concern for how poor people are struggling in the healthcare sector," he alleged.
The BJP state president claimed that the Congress government under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and its deputy D K Shivakumar is not pro-poor; instead, it is a government that supports middlemen.
"Who is responsible for the medicine shortage in government hospitals and medical colleges? The state government and the concerned ministers are responsible. According to information available to me, under pressure from influential individuals, irregularities are taking place in medicine procurement. Instead of purchasing medicines through authorised central and state agencies, the government has moved to fragmented district- and taluk-level tenders," he claimed.
He further alleged that due to commission demands of 15-20 per cent, many companies and public enterprises are not participating in tenders, worsening the system.
Vijayendra claimed that the Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation's procurement system has been sidelined, leading to an artificial shortage of medicines.
He also alleged that a private individual from Mangaluru is controlling the state's medicine procurement system, supplying medicines to most government hospitals.
"This has led to market prices being inflated. Medicines costing Rs 100 are reportedly being purchased for Rs 300. I will provide more documents and evidence in the coming days," he claimed.
He also alleged that staff associated with the 108 ambulance services have not been paid salaries for the past eight to nine months.
"The government must take responsibility and reform the system instead of protecting middlemen," he added.
