653 new COVID-19 cases in Karnataka, 8 deaths
Bengaluru: Karnataka added 653 new COVID-19 cases and eight related fatalities, taking the infection count to 9,16,909 and the toll to 12,070, the health department said on Monday.
The day also saw 1,178 patients getting discharged after recovery and there are 12,547 active cases in the state.
The state's cumulative COVID-19 tally stood at 9,16,909 COVID-19, which includes 12,070 deaths and 8,92,273 discharges, the health department said in its bulletin.
A total of 12,342 patients are stable in isolation at designated hospitals, while 205 are in Intensive Care Units.
As many as 309 of the new cases were from Bengaluru Urban district, which also accounted for five of the eight deaths Ballari, Kodagu, and Uttara Kannada each reported one fatality.
All the deceased had a history of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI).
Mysuru was second in the number of cases 63, Chikkaballapura came next with 28, Kodagu had 27, Tumakuru 20, Shivamogga 17, followed by others.
Bengaluru Urban district tops the list of positive cases, with 3,86,908 infections, followed by Mysuru 52,289 and Ballari 38,821.
Among discharges too Bengaluru Urban was on top with 3,74,378 discharges, followed by Mysuru 50,772 and Ballari 38,011.
A total of over 1,37,72,451 samples have been tested so far, out of which 67,742 were tested on Monday alone.
To date tests have been conducted on 1,766 UK passengers who have arrived in the state, out of which 27 are positive, 1,384 are negative and results of 355 are awaited, the release said.
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JD(S) attacks K’taka govt over fuel prices, accuses it of mobilising funds for guarantee schemes
Mysuru (PTI): Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Congress government in Karnataka over petrol and diesel prices, accusing it of "misleading the public" while repeatedly raising taxes and fuel prices to finance its guarantee schemes.
Addressing a public outreach programme titled 'Janarondige Janata Dal' (Janata Dal with the people) and a membership campaign in the Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency in Mysuru, the JD(S) state president challenged Congress leaders to make public the number of tax hikes and price increases imposed by the state government over the last three years.
"On one hand, the government is deceiving people by claiming to provide guarantees, while on the other, it is repeatedly increasing prices. Let the Congress government release a list of how many times it has imposed taxes and raised prices," Kumaraswamy said.
He alleged that the Congress government had continuously increased taxes and prices on liquor, bus fares, electricity, and several other sectors to mobilise funds for its five guarantee schemes—Gruha Lakshmi, Gruha Jyothi, Anna Bhagya, Shakti, and Yuva Nidhi.
Kumaraswamy also criticised Congress leaders for attacking the Centre over fuel price hikes and asked them to introspect on their own contribution to the state’s development before holding the proposed 'Sadhana Samavesha' (achievement convention) on May 19.
Referring to the global oil situation, he said the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran had triggered an international oil supply crisis and argued that fuel prices in India remained lower than in many developed countries.
"In Singapore, which is a developed country, petrol costs Rs 245. Congress leaders should open their eyes and see this," he claimed.
He further questioned what the Congress party would have done had it been in power during the present international crisis.
"Did anyone foresee that such a war would take place? If Congress leaders had such foresight, let them say so. If the Congress party itself had been in power during such a difficult situation, what would it have done?" Kumaraswamy asked.
Throughout his address, the former CM mounted a sustained attack on Congress leaders and dismissed claims that guarantee schemes had improved people’s lives.
"Congress leaders think people are living peacefully because of the guarantee schemes. That is wrong," he said.
Recalling the by-election scenario in the Chamundeshwari constituency in 2006, Kumaraswamy said JD(S) had suffered defeat due to internal mistakes within the party.
"If our leaders had been cautious then, the situation would not have reached this stage. JD(S) suffered defeat because of some mistakes on our part," he said.
He added that he shared a deep bond with the constituency.
Calling upon party workers to prepare for the next Assembly elections, Kumaraswamy expressed confidence that JD(S) would win 75 seats in the next polls and asserted that Chamundeshwari constituency would return to the party in 2028.
"There is no confusion in our party," he said, adding that JD(S) would not bow to any pressure and that the convention had been organised to strengthen its presence in Chamundeshwari.
"Our party has lakhs of loyal workers as its backbone. JD(S) remains strong even today because of the hard work of our cadre," he said.
Kumaraswamy also claimed that during his tenure as CM, he had sanctioned more funds for the Chamundeshwari constituency than the present CM (Siddaramaiah).
"We are not holding this convention to oppose anyone. We are organising it to inform the people about the failures of the state government," he said.
Addressing the gathering in a traditional turban, Kumaraswamy said the gesture was intended to send a message to the Hallumatha and Kuruba communities and reassure them of JD(S) support.
"JD(S) is working for Kurubas, Dalits, and minorities. I am not helping distressed people for publicity. I do it out of self-satisfaction and duty," he said.
