CM Siddaramaiah rejects HDK's charge regarding suicide attempt by transport department driver
Bengaluru, Jul 6: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday dismissed the allegations levelled by JD(S) leader and former CM H D Kumaraswamy accusing Agriculture Minister N Chaluvarayaswamy of abetting a government bus driver-cum-conductor's suicide attempt.
Siddaramaiah said Kumaraswamy is making false accusations "out of frustration".
In the elections to the 224-member Assembly in May, the Congress swept to power winning 135 seats, while the BJP secured 66 and the JD(S) 19.
"The driver has named Minister Chaluvarayaswamy in his suicide note. His (driver's) wife is a panchayat member who was aspiring to become the Panchayat president. He has attempted to commit suicide by drinking poison, because the department has transferred him," the Chief Minister said.
He slammed Kumaraswamy for making "baseless allegations" (regarding "transfer business" (corruption) going on in the State government).
"Kumaraswamy is reacting out of frustration with regard to transfers. The transfer process is regular in the government and it is being carried out," Siddaramaiah said.
He also said that Kumaraswamy was making false charges that deals were made and bribes were taken.
"There were transfers during his tenure (as CM) as well. Did they get paid?" Siddaramaiah wondered.
He said the allegations cannot be made on assumptions. As the new government is in power, transfers will be made in the interest of the administration.
Election Code of Conduct was in force in March and April and hence transfers were not made. Now general transfers are being carried out, the Chief Minister explained.
ALSO READ: Kumaraswamy flashes pen drive, says he will expose corruption in Congress govt
Regarding Kumaraswamy's statement that he will release an audio (regarding corruption), Siddaramaiah said his allegations are like "hit and run".
He sought to know whether the accusations made by him will be taken to their logical conclusion.
Talking about the mention of his son and former MLA Yathindra's name in the alleged 'transfer business', the CM said he is being simply accused.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Over 75 percent of Karnataka’s population obese, overweight: Report
Bengaluru: A new health report has revealed that over 75% of Karnataka's population screened in 2024 is either obese or overweight, highlighting an alarming rise in lifestyle-related health issues.
According to the Health of the Nation 2025 report by Apollo Hospitals, as cited by The New Indian Express on Tuesday, 56% of those screened were diagnosed as obese, while another 21% were classified as overweight.
The report underscores a growing public health crisis, driven by sedentary lifestyles, poor nutrition, and undiagnosed chronic conditions that often do not show visible symptoms. The annual report, which examined health data from over 2.5 million preventive screenings conducted across the Apollo ecosystem in India, reveals that symptom-based healthcare is increasingly insufficient to address these hidden health risks.
In Karnataka, the report found that 28% of the individuals screened were hypertensive, with half of them classified as pre-hypertensive. Diabetes was found in 20% of the population, with an additional 25% falling into the pre-diabetic category. These figures reflect the rising metabolic stress among asymptomatic individuals, many of whom are unaware of their conditions.
Additionally, the report noted that 84% of the screened individuals in the state had low vitamin D levels, which can negatively impact bone health and immunity. Furthermore, 64% exhibited reduced flexibility, affecting musculoskeletal wellness.
Dr Prathap C. Reddy, Chairman of Apollo Hospitals, emphasised the need for India to shift towards a preventive health culture. "Early screening, personalised interventions, and health education should become integral to our homes, schools, and workplaces," TNIE quoted him as saying.
The report also highlighted several other health threats, including fatty liver disease, post-menopause health risks, and childhood obesity. Of the 2.5 million people screened nationally, 65% had fatty liver with 85% of those cases being non-alcoholic. Heart disease signs were present in 46% of asymptomatic individuals, while post-menopausal women saw a sharp increase in both obesity (from 76% to 86%) and diabetes (from 14% to 40%).
Childhood obesity is also becoming a significant concern, with the report revealing that 28% of college students were either overweight or obese, and 19% showed signs of prehypertension.
Mental health issues, often under-reported, emerged as another area of concern, with 7% of women and 5% of men screened nationwide showing symptoms of clinical depression, particularly among the middle-aged population.
