Lucknow: Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said there would be no elections in the future if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) return to power in 2019.
Addressing a gathering in his hometown Saifai while welcoming the ‘Samajik Nyay Yatra’ cycle rally from Ghazipur, Yadav said people should “find a drain and a ‘kadai’ (utensil) to fry ‘pakodas’ if the BJP comes back to power in 2019”.
The former chief minister said, “The government in Delhi [Centre] today is trying to kill democracy. Not just us, but many social thinkers and their friends are saying that if the BJP is voted back to power in 2019, then democracy might cease to exist in this country. There may be no elections in the future. So the entire Opposition has just one chance to save democracy in 2019.”
He added, “Looking at the statements made by BJP leaders and specially Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it seems there is no one more backward than him. He always claims that he comes from a backward community. If he is backward, then we are definitely more backward than him.
“The BJP has poisoned the atmosphere of the country by indulging in caste politics. People have seen both the Centre and state BJP governments and it must be quite clear to them that both have done nothing concrete.”
Yadav said 2019 was “an exam and if we fail in our exam, then we must look for a naali (drain) and kadhai as we will have to fry pakodas together then”.
He said the BJP wanted to take the country back, while “we want the progress of our nation. We all should also understand that 2019 will also pave way for 2022. The BJP will try to take votes by conspiring and misguiding but we will have to be vigilant”.
Taking potshots at the recent statement made by Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath on the issue of excessive sugarcane produce, Yadav said: “Our chief minister is also an amazing doctor, without any kind of tests he can tell you that diabetes is caused by excessive sugarcane produce.”
Courtesy: www.news18.com
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Bengaluru: A new health report has revealed that over 75% of Karnataka's population screened in 2024 is either obese or overweight, highlighting an alarming rise in lifestyle-related health issues.
According to the Health of the Nation 2025 report by Apollo Hospitals, as cited by The New Indian Express on Tuesday, 56% of those screened were diagnosed as obese, while another 21% were classified as overweight.
The report underscores a growing public health crisis, driven by sedentary lifestyles, poor nutrition, and undiagnosed chronic conditions that often do not show visible symptoms. The annual report, which examined health data from over 2.5 million preventive screenings conducted across the Apollo ecosystem in India, reveals that symptom-based healthcare is increasingly insufficient to address these hidden health risks.
In Karnataka, the report found that 28% of the individuals screened were hypertensive, with half of them classified as pre-hypertensive. Diabetes was found in 20% of the population, with an additional 25% falling into the pre-diabetic category. These figures reflect the rising metabolic stress among asymptomatic individuals, many of whom are unaware of their conditions.
Additionally, the report noted that 84% of the screened individuals in the state had low vitamin D levels, which can negatively impact bone health and immunity. Furthermore, 64% exhibited reduced flexibility, affecting musculoskeletal wellness.
Dr Prathap C. Reddy, Chairman of Apollo Hospitals, emphasised the need for India to shift towards a preventive health culture. "Early screening, personalised interventions, and health education should become integral to our homes, schools, and workplaces," TNIE quoted him as saying.
The report also highlighted several other health threats, including fatty liver disease, post-menopause health risks, and childhood obesity. Of the 2.5 million people screened nationally, 65% had fatty liver with 85% of those cases being non-alcoholic. Heart disease signs were present in 46% of asymptomatic individuals, while post-menopausal women saw a sharp increase in both obesity (from 76% to 86%) and diabetes (from 14% to 40%).
Childhood obesity is also becoming a significant concern, with the report revealing that 28% of college students were either overweight or obese, and 19% showed signs of prehypertension.
Mental health issues, often under-reported, emerged as another area of concern, with 7% of women and 5% of men screened nationwide showing symptoms of clinical depression, particularly among the middle-aged population.