Expect BJP to announce first list of candidates for LS polls in 3-4 days: BS Yediyurappa
Chikkamagaluru, Feb 25: Veteran BJP leader and its Parliamentary Board member B S Yediyurappa on Sunday said that he expects the party to release the first list of candidates for Lok Sabha polls in thee or four days.
The former Karnataka Chief Minister said the atmosphere was in favour of the BJP across the country and in the state, because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity.
"...we will get to know in three or four days, who is the candidate and if there are any changes...I expect it (first list to be released in three or four days)," Yediyurappa said in response to a question.
Because of Modi, across the the country and even in Karnataka there is an atmosphere in favour of the BJP, and the party's effort is to win all the 28 Lok Sabha seats in the state, he further said, adding that "I'm confident that we will be successful in this."
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The BJP had swept the 2019 general elections, bagging 25 of the total 28 seats in the state, while Sumalatha Ambareesh, an independent backed by the party had also emerged victorious in Mandya.
To a question about Sumalatha Ambareesh holding meeting with her supporters amid reports that the BJP may cede the Mandya seat to alliance partner JD(S), Yediyurappa said, "nothing has been discussed, I don't have any information, things will be clear in a couple of days."
The former CM said Shobha Karandlaje, who is Union Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare in the last Lok Sabha elections had won with a margin of over 3.5 lakh votes from Udupi-Chikmagalur segment and will win with an even bigger margin this time. "There should not be any doubt about it."
A postcard campaign has been initiated allegedly by some BJP workers urging PM Narendra Modi and party national president J P Nadda to not field Karandlaje from Udupi-Chikmagalur and give priority to new face.
Calling the campaign "systematic conspiracy", Yediyurappa said, "we know who is behind it, she (Karandlaje) will not lose courage, every one knows she has done a good job as union Minister. She will win with a bigger margin than last time," he added.
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Separate nodal officer in all districts to prevent female foeticides in Karnataka: Minister
Belagavi (PTI): Accepting that the female foeticide has not stopped in the state, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Tuesday said that the government is taking strict measures to prevent it.
The minister said the government is appointing separate nodal officers in all districts and tightening measures to prevent foeticide, which he called a "social evil".
He also assured that the government will consider strengthening legislation to control such activities.
The minister was responding to a question by BJP MLC C T Ravi in the Legislative Council.
"Female foeticides have certainly not stopped. If you look at the sex ratio, there is a lot of difference. I accept that this is happening," Rao said.
"Foeticides are not happening under pressure; voluntarily, it is happening, for not wanting a girl child. These things are happening based on the sex determination of the foetus at some hospitals. Sex determination is illegal, but with the advancement in technology, portable ultrasound machines have been developed, which can be easily carried anywhere, and scans and tests can be done. This needs to be controlled. We will bring it to the notice of the central government," he said.
In some districts and in a few hospitals, a higher number of male child births is happening. It is found with the help of intelligence input, the minister said.
"Information is being gathered on the taluk in which the male-female ratio is worsening, what is happening in which hospital, and appropriate action is being taken to crack down on such a network, after proper evaluation."
Decoy operations have been done at seven places in the last two years, to identify those involved in illegal activities linked to female foeticides, and actions have been taken against officials and hospitals involved, he said, adding that more needs to be done on priority.
Responding to a question by Ravi about whether any stringent legislation is being brought, Rao said, the government will consider strengthening the legislation and making it stricter to control this.
"Some amendments have been made to the existing laws in the last two years....advanced technology and the internet is being used to carry out such things, also oral medicines for abortions are available over the counter.
We need to look into bringing legislation to control them. The Food and Drug Administration has issued instructions to pharmacists that the sale of such drugs should be documented."
The minister also said that measures are also being taken for the effective implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC & PNDT) Act, and awareness is being created against the identification of female foetuses and female foeticide.
