BJP protests across state demanding DK Shivakumar to resign
Bengaluru (PTI): The BJP on Tuesday held protests in various parts of the state against Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's purported comments regarding changing the Constitution to accommodate four per cent reservation for Muslims in the state.
However, the senior congress leader on Monday denied making any such comments and claimed that he was "misquoted".
Shivakumar's response came in the wake of the BJP forcing repeated adjournments in the Lok Sabha on Monday over his alleged remarks on the matter.
Condemning his purported statement, protests were held today by the BJP workers and its members in various parts of the state -- Mandya, Chikkaballapura, Mysuru, Kalaburagi-- accusing the Karnataka government of doing "appeasement politics". Protesters sought for Shivakumar's apology and demanded his immediate resignation.
In Bengaluru, protests were held in Basavanagudi, Padmanabhanagar and Rajarajeshwari Nagar here.
"Protests were held condemning DK Shivakumar's statement regarding changing the Constitution. Protests were held in all our mandals, at district level across the state. Our MLAs, MLCs, former ministers and senior party leaders like R Ashoka and B Y Vijayendra too joined the protests," a senior BJP functionary said.
In Mysuru, the protest led by BJP MLA TS Srivatsa was held in front of Ambedkar statue, which falls under Ashokapuram police station limits.
Chanting "Jai Bhim" slogans, the party workers garlanded Ambedkar statue and accused Shivakumar and the Congress party of being "Anti-Dalit" and "Anti-Constitution".
Speaking to reporters here, the BJP MLA demanded sacking of Deputy Chief Minister and alleged that the statement made by Shivakumar was "Anti-Constitutional". He demanded that a case should be filed against him suo motu and that he should be arrested for his purported statement.
In Bidar, the BJP workers burnt effigy's of Shivakumar in city's Ambedkar circle and raised slogans against the Congress government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Former Union Minister Bhagwanth Khuba who participated in the protest along with other BJP leaders condemned "the statement".
In Hubballi, the protest was led by BJP MLA Mahesh Tenginkai at city's Sangolli Rayanna Circle.
Shouting slogans against Shivakumar, the protesters hit portrait of Shivakumar with slippers.
In Kalaburagi, a massive protest was held by the BJP workers from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Circle to the District Collector's office opposing the four per cent reservation given for Muslims in public contracts and condemning Shivakumar's alleged statement.
The Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Friday passed a Bill to provide four per cent reservation for Muslims in public contracts, amidst strong protests from opposition BJP.
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4 children test HIV positive in MP govt hospital; contaminated blood transfusion suspected
Satna/Bhopal (PTI): Four children suffering from thalassemia have tested HIV positive at Satna District Hospital in Madhya Pradesh allegedly due to contaminated blood transfusions, officials said on Tuesday.
The case is four months old and an investigation is underway into it, an official said.
Officials suspect the use of contaminated needles or blood transfusions for the spread of infection to the children.
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MP Health Minister Rajendra Shukla told reporters in Bhopal that he has ordered a probe into the matter and sought a report.
“It is also being investigated whether the blood transfusion took place in other hospitals also or only in the government hospital,” he said.
The affected children, aged between 12 and 15 years, received blood transfusions from the hospital's blood bank, as per an official.
Devendra Patel, in-charge of the blood bank at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel District Hospital in Satna, said four children have tested HIV positive and an investigation is underway to determine how they got infected.
"Either an infected needle was used or a blood transfusion occurred. These are the two main reasons I believe. Blood transfusion seems to be the most likely cause," he told PTI Videos.
All these children suffer from thalassemia, and some have received 80 or 100 blood transfusions, he said.
A family member of one of the affected children said that their child was found to be HIV positive during a routine checkup about four months back, and he has been receiving medication, but it had proven to be of no use.
After taking the medication for HIV, the child starts vomiting, feels low and becomes ill, he said.
After the four children were detected with HIV infection, their family members were also tested and the results came out negative, he added.
The Opposition Congress targeted the government over the matter and demanded the resignation of Health Minister Shukla.
Speaking to reporters in Bhopal, Congress MLA and former minister Sachin Yadav claimed such incidents were continuously occurring in Madhya Pradesh.
Earlier, a case of toxic cough syrup came to light in Chhindwara, followed by incidents of rat bites at hospitals in Indore and Satna, and now children have been given HIV-infected blood, he said.
"The health minister is unable to manage the department. He should resign. A murder case should be filed against those responsible for the Satna incident," Yadav said.
Senior Congress leader Sajjan Singh Verma termed it a failure of the government. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's government has no connection with ground realities, he charged.
"Somewhere rats are roaming in hospitals, somewhere children are being given HIV-infected blood. Instead of preventing HIV, you are spreading it. Mohan Yadav should wake up from his slumber. Children are the nation's heritage and should be taken care of," he added.
