Bengaluru, Apr 26: Karnataka on Monday reported 29,744 COVID-19 fresh cases and 201 fatalities, taking the caseload and deaths to 13,68,945 and 14,627 respectively, the health department said.

According to the health bulletin, 10,73,257 people were discharged cumulatively including 10,663 today in the state.

Karnataka had recorded 34,804 new COVID-19 cases yesterday.

Bengaluru urban district accounted for 16,545 fresh infections and 105 deaths.The city has so far reported 6,70,201 infections and 5,905 deaths.

There are 1,92,669 active cases whereas 4,313 people were discharged on Monday.

According to the health bulletin, 1,563 infections were reported in Mysuru, 1,197 in Tumakuru, 929 in Mandya, 872 in Kalaburagi, 786 in Ballari, 747 in Hassan, 609 in Raichur, 505 in Bengaluru Rural.

Cases were also reported in Belagavi, Bagalkote, Bidar, Chamarajanagar, Chikkaballapura, Chikkamagaluru, Chitradurga, Dakshina Kannada, Davangere, Gadag, Dharwad, Haveri, Kodagu, Kolar, Koppal, Ramanagar, Shivamogga, Udupi, Yadgir, Vijayapura and Uttara Kannada.

Other than Bengaluru, 18 fatalities have been reported in Ballari, 10 in Hassan, 9 in Mandya, 7 each in Kalaburagi and Mysuru, five each in Dharwad, Kolar and Ramanagara, four each in Yadgir, Tumakuru, Haveri and Bidar, three each in Bengaluru Rural, Chamarajanagar and Uttara Kannada, two each in Chikkamagaluru and one each in Shivamogga, Raichur and Bagalkote.

There were 1,66,407 tests done on Monday including 1,55,615 using the RT PCR and other methods taking the total tests done so far to 2.49 crore, the department added.

As many as 88,27,370 inoculations were done, the department said.

To view today's health bulletin: CLICK HERE

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Bhopal/Indore, May 13 (PTI): Madhya Pradesh Minister and BJP leader Vijay Shah has sparked a major controversy with objectionable comments that appeared to be directed at Col Sofia Qureshi, whom he tried to project as a "sister of terrorists."

Under severe flak, Shah said if anyone is hurt by his statement, he is ready to apologise ten times, adding that he respects Colonel Qureshi more than his sister.

The Congress has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sack Shah from the Madhya Pradesh cabinet.

Colonel Qureshi had conducted regular press briefings, sharing details of the 'Operation Sindoor' launched by Indian armed forces to strike terrorists, joined by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.

"Those people (terrorists) who had wiped out the sindoor (vermilion) of our sisters (in the Pahalgam terror attack)..We avenged these 'kate-pite' people by sending their sister to destroy them," Shah said.

"They (terrorists) killed our Hindu brothers by making them remove their clothes. PM Modi ji responded by sending their (terrorists') sister in an Army plane to strike them in their houses. They (terrorists) made our sisters widows, so Modiji sent the sister of their community to strip them and teach them a lesson", the BJP leader said while addressing a gathering in Ramkunda village near Indore.

He said, "Revenge was taken for the honour of our country (India), respect, and for the (slain) husbands of our sisters by sending a sister from your (terrorists') community to Pakistan".

The tribal welfare minister clarified that his remarks should not be construed otherwise.

Shah's remarks drew wide-scale condemnation, with Congress demanding his immediate dismissal from the MP cabinet.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said Shah, who made 'derogatory' remarks in reference to Colonel Sofia Qureshi, should be dismissed immediately.

"A minister of the BJP government of Madhya Pradesh has made a very derogatory, shameful and cheap remark about our brave daughter Colonel Sofia Qureshi. The terrorists of Pahalgam wanted to divide the country, but the country was united during the entire 'Operation Sindoor' to give a befitting reply to the terrorists," Kharge posted on X.

He alleged that the BJP-RSS harbours an anti-women mentality.

"First, the wife of the naval officer martyred in Pahalgam was trolled on social media, then the daughter of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri was harassed, and now the BJP ministers are making such indecent comments about our brave woman Sophia Qureshi," Kharge said and appealed to PM Modi to immediately sack Shah.

Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari shared the video of Shah on X and asked whether the BJP agrees with the minister's "low thinking"?

The MP Congress Committee alleged that Shah's "indecent' and hate-filled" statement is not just a personal attack, but an open attack on India's military dignity, national unity, and women's honour.

Amid the raging controversy, the BJP's Madhya Pradesh general secretary Hitanand Sharma summoned Shah to the state headquarters in Bhopal.

According to sources, Sharma reprimanded the minister, who also met the state BJP president, Vishnu Dutt Sharma.

Speaking to reporters, Shah sought to attribute the intemperate remarks to his "disturbed" state of mind in view of the brutal killing of innocent people in Pahalgam by terrorists.

He claimed many members of his family have a military background and many were martyred.

"Sister Sophia has brought glory to India by rising above caste and religion. She is more respected than our own sister. I salute her for her service to the nation.

"We cannot even think of insulting her in our dreams. Still, if my words have hurt society and religion, then I am ready to apologise ten times,'' he added.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Manoj Shukla and the party workers blackened the nameplate of Shah at his bungalow and raised slogans seeking his resignation.