D K Shivakumar accuses Karnataka govt of giving false COVID positive reports, seeks judicial probe
Ramanagara, Jan 10: Accusing the BJP government in Karnataka of giving false COVID-19 positive reports, aimed at creating trouble for his party's ongoing padayatra (march), by citing rise in cases, Congress Karnataka president D K Shivakumar on Monday demanded a judicial probe into it.
He also alleged there is a conspiracy to somehow declare him COVID positive to scuttle the march.
The Congress had commenced its 10-day padayatra on Sunday demanding implementation of the Mekedatu project across the Cauvery river, despite the COVID-19 restrictions.
"The Karnataka government is conspiring against me and my party to somehow stop this padayatra, it is their main programme....last night Assistant Deputy Commissioner (ADC) was sent to me to get me tested and get my positive report," Shivakumar said.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines on the second day of the padayatra, he said, "They (govt) are giving false positive reports, so there should be an inquiry...they are trying to end the life of the people by imposing restrictions for the sake of politics. I demand a judicial probe on the numbers being reported."
"The rising positivity rate is BJP's. It is BJP's positive, BJP's COVID, BJP's Omicron, BJP's lockdown and curfew. Despite people not having the disease, they are creating one," he claimed, even as the state on Sunday registered a spike in numbers, by reporting 12,000 new cases.
Further alleging a conspiracy to get him COVID infected or positive certificate, the KPCC chief said, according to his information the ADC who came and met him last night is now corona infected.
"He is the primary contact or something. Then why did they (BJP govt) send that officer to me? Where did they learn this trick? They somehow want to create trouble. Why do they want to do such petty politics?" he asked.
Asked why he suspected, even before the test, that officials will give his positive report, he said, "Don't we get information? I have all the information of the bureaucracy, the Ministers and officials share information with me."
Meanwhile, a viral video of Shivakumar purportedly reprimanding officials who wanted to test him for COVID-19, last evening, has gone viral.
".....I'm fit and fine. You can't compel me. I know the law of this land, Shivakumar can be heard telling officials including the ADC, in a high tone.
Hitting back at Shivakumar for his behaviour with officials, Chief Minister Bommai said it shows his culture.
"We (govt) are concerned about his health, not only him but all others who walked along with him for a long distance yesterday. Checking their health is the duty and generosity of the Health Department, without understanding it, he has behaved, can't do much about it, it's his culture," he said.
Meanwhile, police have registered FIR against nearly 30 Congress leaders and others including Shivakumar, leader of opposition in the state assembly Siddaramaiah and Bengaluru Rural MP D K Suresh for taking part in the padayatra, defying COVID-19 curbs.
Reacting to this, Shivakumar claimed that curfew wasn't followed in many parts of the state and no cases have been booked against BJP leaders who violated COVID rules, while FIRs have been registered against 30 people who participated in the Congress' padayatra.
Further stating that he has advised the Congress' Legal cell to look into the government not taking action against BJP leaders who violated the rules, he said, "this is a political fight, fight against injustice....if cases are not registered, we will fight against it."
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Woman's death: Under fire Pune-based Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital announces 'no deposit' policy
Pune (PTI) The Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Maharashtra's Pune city, under fire for allegedly turning away a pregnant woman over non-payment of Rs 10 lakh as advance for treatment, on Saturday announced it would no longer be taking deposits from patients at the emergency department.
The woman, wife of the personal secretary of BJP MLC Amit Gorkhe, had to be shifted to another hospital where she died after delivering twins. The incident hit national headlines and evoked strong condemnation from leaders cutting across party lines as well as protests from citizens' groups.
In an open letter, the hospital's medical director Dr Dhananjay Kelkar said, "In the early years of Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, we never took a deposit. But as the number of critical cases increased and the cost of complex treatments rose, the hospital began taking deposits in certain high-cost cases."
"However, in light of yesterday's events, we have re-evaluated this practice and passed a resolution that the hospital will no longer take any deposit from patients entering through the Emergency Department, including emergency deliveries and paediatric emergencies. This will be implemented with immediate effect," Dr Kelkar said in the letter.
ALSO READ: Woman died post delivery after Pune hospital refused admission over Rs 10 lakh deposit
He defended the hospital by reiterating that he had personally told the woman's kin to pay as per their ability and also offered all help, but they left with the patient without informing anyone.
While it is factually incorrect and unfair to hold the hospital directly responsible for the incident and the unfortunate death, the hospital is still investigating whether it showed adequate sensitivity towards the patient, Dr Kelkar added.
"I had myself told the woman's relatives to pay whatever amount they could as a deposit and assured them of complete support. However, they left the hospital with the patient without informing anyone," he stated.
Alluding to the protests at the hospital by various political parties on Friday, Dr Kelkar termed it as a "black day".
Without any regard for the hospital's legacy and services, a group participating in the morcha (protest) threw coins at the public relations officer, while some women activists allegedly barged into a hospital run by the parents of Dr. Sushrut Ghaisas and vandalized it.
Dr Ghaisas has been accused by the kin of the deceased woman seeking the deposit ahead of admission.
"Our heads hung in shame when some protestors blackened the names of Lata Mangeshkar and Deenanath Mangeshkar, all of this taking place in front of media cameras," Dr Kelkar said.
An internal inquiry report of the Mangeshkar Hospital had claimed on Friday that the allegations of denial of admission for non-payment of Rs 10 lakh were "misleading" and made "out of frustration" by her family.
The woman's pregnancy was in the high-risk category, and her two underweight foetuses of seven months, coupled with a history of an old ailment, required Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) treatment for at least two months, it said.
The treatment required Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh and the family was advised that in case of lack of funds, they could admit the patient to the government-run Sassoon General Hospital for a complicated surgery, it added.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced the formation of an inquiry panel under the Pune-based Joint Commissioner of Charity to look into the incident.
