I won’t contest again against Siddaramaiah: G.T. Deve Gowda
Shivamogga, October 27: “There are no eternal foes and friends in politics. So, there is no question of contesting against Siddaramaiah again”, said Higher Education Minister G.T. Deve Gowda.
Speaking to reporters here on Saturday, the Minister said that “I don’t know whether the Election Commission is working as per the direction of the Central government or independently in the democratic system in the country. What is the intention of conducting elections to the constituencies for just five months? Either the Election Commission or the Central government should clarify about it. Those who will win this by-election will have just five months term. At least, let them enjoy the next five year term. Otherwise, stop holding such meaningless elections”, he said.
Chief Minister H.D Kumaraswamy has waived off the farm loans availed from cooperative banks and commercial banks. When he was the chief minister 12 years ago, Kumaraswamy had sanctioned degree colleges. Now once again, the government has taken steps to establish degree colleges and fill the vacant posts, he said.
Both Central government and the Election Commission should not allow a single person contesting from two constituencies simultaneously, he said.
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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.
