CM Kumaraswamy turns emotional again, says he is alive to serve people
Bengaluru, Oct 26: Making an emotional appeal to voters in the party stronghold of Mandya, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Friday said he is living to serve the people of the state, who are his biggest asset.
Hitting out at the BJP for repeated attacks on his government, Kumaraswamy said the power that he enjoys is by the grace of god and support of Congress MLAs and only they have the strength to take it back.
"I had to go to hospital (because of ill health) day before yesterday. I won't say what was the reason, but the day I betray my people, even though I'm alive I'm like dead," he said.
Kumaraswamy said he is not here to make money, as he said people were his "asset" and sought their love and affection.
"I have said several times in election rallies that I Would have died during my Israel visit, but I have come back alive. How long I'm alive is not important for me.By utilising the power given to me by god, I want to serve every family. That's the only challenge in front of me," he said.
"I'm not in a wretched situation to run this government by making money, by looting public money," he said at an election rally in Malavalli.
Kumaraswamy earlier too had made similar emotional appeals to people ahead of May 12 assembly polls, citing health reasons.
Addressing another meeting in Madduru, the chief minister said he wants to serve the state in such a way that he is remembered for his service.
Kumaraswamy Friday extensively campaigned in the JD(S)bastion of Mandya Lok Sabha constituency, which will go to bypolls along with two other parliamentary segments and two assembly segments on November 3.
The government and power that he enjoys is because of the grace of god and support of Congress MLAs, Kumaraswamy said and added only they have the strength to take it back.
Mandya Lok Sabha constituency that comes under the old Mysuru region is dominated by Vokkaligas, a community considered a strong vote base to JD(S).
JD(S)' ally Congress is supporting the party candidate Shivarame Gowda by not fielding its candidate.
As Congress too has considerable vote base in the region, a section of local party leaders and workers are said to have reservation about their leadership's decision to leave the seat for JD(S).
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Karnataka procured 16 lakh expired RT-PCR kits during Covid wave: D’Cunha commission
Bengaluru: Justice John Michael D’Cunha’s committee has uncovered significant irregularities in the procurement of medical supplies during the Covid-19 pandemic, revealing that more than 16 lakh RT-PCR test kits purchased by Karnataka in 2022 under the BJP-led government were either expired or close to their expiry dates.
After irregularities in PPE kit purchases, ventilators have also come under the scanner, with the report highlighting discrepancies amounting to Rs 173.26 crore in purchases made by the Medical Education Department.
The commission has also found that the Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Ltd. (KSMSCL) that cancelled a supply order for one lakh Rapid Antigen (RAT) kits placed with a Singapore-based company in March 2020 — for delay in supplying — has not recovered the Rs 6.99 crore paid to the company towards the order, as reported by The Hindu on Thursday.
According to the 279-page report on procurements made by the KSMSCL that is compiled in part IV of the report, a payment of Rs 148.84 crore was made by KSMSCL to various suppliers and firms towards procurement of RT-PCR kits from 2020 to 2022.
The Commission’s report, as cited by the publication, stated that there were records indicating procurement of RT-PCR kits, RNA extraction kits and Viral transport media (VTM) of a total value of Rs 106.25 crore during the pandemic in Karnataka. However, according to the report, this procurement was made without administrative approval.
“Since the KSMSCL has failed to discharge its obligation and responsibility, the loss caused to the State exchequer to this extent is required to be replenished by the erring officers and/or officials of the KSMSCL as well as the officers and/or officials of the consignee designated laboratories who received the consignment,” the report said, pegging the losses due to expired kits supplied by companies at Rs 3.11 crore.
In response to the report’s findings, state Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao criticised the saffron party for profiting from the pandemic. He promised accountability for the irregularities involving PPE kits and ventilators, stating that those responsible would face punishment.
