Biggest single-day spike of 10,453 new cases in Karnataka
Bengaluru: Karnataka on Tuesday reported the biggest single-day spike of over 10,400 new COVID-19 cases and 136 fatalities, taking the total number of infections to 5,92,911 and the toll to 8,777, the health department said.
The day also saw 6,628 patients getting discharged after recovery.
Out of 10,453 fresh cases reported on Tuesday, 4,868 were from Bengaluru urban alone.
The previous biggest single-day spike was recorded on September 13 with 9,894 cases.
As of September 29 evening, cumulatively 5,92,911 COVID- 19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 8,777 deaths and 4,76,378 discharges, the health department said in its bulletin.
It said that out of 1,07,737 active cases, 1,06,922 patients are in isolation at designated hospitals and are stable, while 815 are in Intensive Care Units.
Bengaluru Urban topped the list in the number of deaths, accounting for 67 of the 136 deaths, followed by Hassan (10), Dakshina Kannada (9), Mysuru (7), Shivamogga (6), Koppal (5), Dharwad (4).
Belagavi, Chitradurga and Tuamkuru each reported three deaths, Ballari, Chamarajanagara, Haveri, Kalaburagi, Kodagu, Mandya and Udupi two each and Chikkaballapura, Chikkamagaluru, Gadag, Ramanagara and Vijayapura one each.
Most of the deceased either had a history of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) or Influenza-like illness (ILI).
Bengaluru Urban again came out on top in the number of new cases with 4,868, while Hassan was next with 475, Mysuru 414, Dakshina Kannada 362, Shivamogga 347, Udupi 319, Ballari 313, Bengaluru Rural 305, Tumakuru 297, Davangere 288, followed by others.
Bengaluru urban district topped the list of positive cases with a total of 2,28,437 infections, followed by Mysuru 33,954 and Ballari 31,420.
Among discharges too, Bengaluru urban was on top with 1,78,914, followed by Ballari 28,344 and Mysuru 26,471.
A total of 48,06,197 samples were tested so far, out of which 87,475 were tested on Tuesday alone.
Among the samples tested today 45,141 were Rapid Antigen Tests.
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Modi govt by changing name of MGNREGA exposed its 'hatred' towards Gandhi: Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said that the union government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attempting to change the name and structure of the MGNREGA, has itself exposed its "hatred" towards the poor and towards Mahatma Gandhi.
He also accused the Centre of "altering" the very structure of the scheme, by shifting nearly 40 per cent of the cost onto the state governments, and called Modi "anti federal".
Suggesting that the NDA government at the Centre start a "Ministry of Name Change", with the Prime Minister himself holding that portfolio, the CM warned of a statewide agitation against this name change move.
The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025, that seeks to replace the existing rural employment law MGNREGA, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday amid strong objections by the opposition to the "removal" of Mahatma Gandhi's name from it.
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"The Union government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which is attempting to change the name and structure of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA), has itself exposed its hatred towards the poor and towards Mahatma Gandhi," Siddaramaiah said in a statement.
Implemented by the UPA government 20 years ago, the MGNREGA scheme has played a crucial role in eradicating unemployment and poverty in rural areas, he said, adding that "this scheme, which guarantees the right to employment to every individual, has received praise from economists both in India and abroad."
Noting that MGNREGA was a genuine form of employment guarantee, the CM said the proposed new structure under the Modi government strips away that guarantee and places the assurance of work at the whims of political leaders.
"This will further deepen caste discrimination and social inequality," he claimed.
Highlighting that the NDA government has altered the very structure of MGNREGA, a scheme whose entire expenditure was earlier borne by the Central government, by shifting nearly 40 per cent of the cost onto the state governments, Siddaramaiah said this stands as clear evidence of the "anti-federal attitude" that Prime Minister Modi has followed ever since coming to power.
"This move will also increase the migration of poor people in search of work as the proposed form does not guarantee employment in their own location -- forcing families to travel long distances to survive," he said.
Naming this scheme after Mahatma Gandhi, who sowed the dream of Gram Swaraj, was a meaningful decision, the CM said, "While Prime Minister Narendra Modi indulges in praising Gandhi during his foreign tours, within the country he has consistently engaged in attempts to erase Gandhi's legacy from key national programmes. From a parivar that seeks to glorify Gandhi's assassin Godse, what different conduct can one really expect?"
"Narendra Modi is widely known for simply changing the names of landmark schemes launched by the UPA government rather than preserving or strengthening them. It would be more appropriate for this government to start a 'Ministry of Name Change,' with the Prime Minister himself holding that portfolio," he said.
More than 25 flagship programmes launched during earlier governments were merely renamed or repackaged by the present regime, the CM further said, listing out that the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan was rechristened as the Swachh Bharat Mission, while the Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account scheme was rebranded as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, among others.
"These changes reflect a consistent pattern of altering names rather than fundamentally strengthening or expanding the original intent of these welfare initiatives," he added.
Stating that the Congress party and state government strongly condemn this "anti-people" decision of the Narendra Modi government, which has snatched food from the plates of the poor, insulted Bapu, and attempted to strangle state governments financially, Siddaramaiah warned about launching a statewide agitation against this move.
"The responsibility of preserving the MGNREGA scheme in its original form must also be taken up by the lakhs of beneficiaries of the scheme. They must hold the BJP leaders of the state accountable and exert pressure on them to raise their voices against this injustice, rising above party lines," he said.
