Somnath Chatterjee continues to be critical
Kolkata, July 1: The health condition of former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, under treatment in a private nursing home here following a cerebral haemorrhage, continues to be critical with no further signs of deterioration, a hospital official said.
"His condition is more or less the same. He is still kept in the critical care unit and all the standard medical procedures are being followed. Such critical patients generally take time to recover," Pradip Tondon, CEO of Bellevue clinic, told IANS over phone.
"He is slightly conscious at times but extremely drowsy. However, there has not been any further deterioration in his condition," he added.
Tondon, however, confirmed the veteran politician would not undergo any surgery.
The 89-year-old former Left leader was admitted to the nursing home on June 25 in a critical condition. A medical board comprising Chatterjee's family physicians and other specialists are supervising his treatment.
Chatterjee, regarded as an outstanding parliamentarian, served as Lok Sabha Speaker from 2004 to 2009.
The 10-time Lok Sabha member was expelled from the Communist Party of India-Marxist on July 23, 2008, "for seriously compromising the position of the party" as he refused to resign as Speaker after the CPI-M withdrew its support to the first United Progressive Alliance government over the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal.
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CM Siddaramaiah calls for united action against fake news, warns of legal consequences
Mysuru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has issued a stern warning, stating that the government will take strong legal action against individuals spreading fake news. Speaking at the district journalists' association's Press Day and award ceremony on Saturday, he expressed concern over the growing threat of misinformation, urging society to come together to tackle the issue.
The Chief Minister stressed that while laws have been put in place to penalize those responsible for spreading fake news, legal measures alone are not enough. He stressed on the need for a collective effort to combat the rise of misinformation. "Laws are crucial, but it is the responsibility of society as a whole to reject fake news and ensure that truth prevails," he said.
Citing a personal example, Siddaramaiah recalled an incident during an assembly session where he quoted former CM BS Yediyurappa, who had asked, "Do we have a printing machine to print currency to waive loans?" However, a distorted version of the statement was later circulated on social media, falsely attributing the comment to Siddaramaiah and linking it to the state's guarantee schemes. "This false information not only misled the public but caused harm to me and society as a whole," he remarked.
The CM also highlighted the government's efforts to counter misinformation, announcing the formation of special fact-check units in every district. These units are tasked with identifying and addressing the spread of fake news, with the goal of preserving truth and transparency in public discourse.
"Freedom of expression is a fundamental right granted by our Constitution," Siddaramaiah said, adding that if misinformation threatens the three branches of the Constitution—legislative, executive, and judiciary—society itself will be in danger.
