Instead of PR events like 'Tika Utsav', ensure free Covid19 vaccination to everyone: Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru, Apr 25: Accusing the BJP government at the Centre of having created a 'barrier' by increasing the prices of COVID-19 vaccines, the Congress in Karnataka on Sunday demanded that free vaccination be provided to all citizens.
The principal opposition party also questioned the Yediyurappa government for not announcing vaccines free of cost yet for all.
"Instead of encouraging people to get vaccinated, BJP govt at centre has created a barrier by increasing the prices of vaccines.
(PM) Narendra Modi, instead of PR events like 'Tika Utsav', ensure free Covid19 vaccination to everyone," leader of opposition in Karnataka assembly and Congress leader Siddaramaiah tweeted.
State Congress President D K Shivakumar said India is probably the only country which is discussing vaccine prices, when it's being given for free across the world.
"Why has Karnataka govt still not announced FREE VACCINATION for all? I demand that free vaccines be given to all citizens & a roll-out plan be shared asap," he tweeted.
According to sources, the Karnataka government is likely to decide on vaccinating people of state, free of cost.
The state government on Thursday decided to purchase 1 crore doses of Covishield vaccine at a cost of Rs 400crore, in the first phase.
The central government had recently announced that the vaccination for those above 18 years will begin across the country from May 1 as part of the third phase of the inoculation drive.
With government giving manufacturers and importers pricing freedom, Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) is the manufacturer of Covishield vaccine said vaccines will be priced at Rs 400 per dose for state governments and Rs 600 for private hospitals.
Hyderabad-based vaccine major Bharat Biotech said it would provide its COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin, to state governments at Rs 600 per dosage and to private hospitals at Rs 1,200.
In a series of tweets Siddaramaiah also hit out at state BJP leaders for celebrating the 5kg free rice scheme announced by PM Modi, but the same leaders made all attempts to end Anna Bhagya scheme introduced by the Congress government led by him, which provided 7kgs of free rice.
"This is an example for Karnataka BJP's sickness," he said.
The Centre on Friday had decided to resume providing free food grains to 80 crore poor beneficiaries in May and June to help them tide over the economic hardship in the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, a move that would cost the exchequer around Rs 26,000 crore.
Instead of encouraging people to get vaccinated, @BJP4India govt has created a barrier by increasing the prices of vaccines.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) April 25, 2021
Mr. @narendramodi,
Instead of PR events like 'Tika Utsav', ensure free #Covid19 vaccination to everyone.#Corona2ndWave#vaccine
1/6
.@BJP4Karnataka leaders are celebrating the 5kg free rice scheme announced by @narendramodi but the same leaders made all attempts to end #AnnaBhagya scheme which provided 7kgs of free rice.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) April 25, 2021
This is an example for @BJP4Karnataka's sickness.#AnnaBhagya#Corona2ndWave
2/6
I have always been suggesting the govt to provide 10 kgs of free rice to all distressed people till the pandemic is over @PMOIndia should immediately consider this suggestion & ensure everyone gets 10 kgs of free rice.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) April 25, 2021
3/6#Corona2ndWave#AnnaBhagya
.@BJP4Karnataka govt is giving 2kgs of rice instead of 5kgs in many districts under Anna Bhagya. This is their desperate attempt to end the scheme.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) April 25, 2021
Mr. @CMofKarnataka,
End this injustice immediately so that poor people don't curse you.#AnnaBhagya#Corona2ndWave
4/6
Our govt had launched
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) April 25, 2021
Anna Bhagya,
Ksheera Bhagya,
Indira Canteen,
Matrupoorna & other schemes to make Karnataka a hunger free State.
Anti-poor @BJP4Karnataka govt is on a mission to end all these schemes.
5/6#AnnaBhagya
Where are the 25 MPs from @BJP4Karnataka hiding during this time of crisis?
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) April 25, 2021
These MPs should sit in front of @PMOIndia @narendramodi's house & demand the necessary facilities required to tackle the pandemic.
6/6#Covid2ndwave
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.
Bengaluru: Four arrested for housebreaking, threats, extortion; fake PSI among accused
Bengaluru: Vidyaranyapura police have arrested four persons, including a man posing as a Police Sub-Inspector (PSI), for allegedly breaking into a house, threatening the occupants, and extorting money while wearing police uniforms.
The arrested accused have been identified as Mallikarjuna, Pramod, Vinay, and Hrithik.
Police said the accused had hatched a plan to pose as police personnel, conduct fake raids, and extort money from residents by intimidation.
ALSO READ: Bantwal police arrest two men for illegal sale of narcotics, seize two vehicles, 810 gm ganja
According to the police, Mallikarjuna had failed the PSI examination twice and later falsely projected himself as a PSI. He allegedly conducted photo shoots in his hometown, Siraguppa, wearing a police uniform, baton, cap, and shoes, claiming to be serving as a PSI in Bengaluru.
On December 7, the four accused allegedly went to the house of Naveen in the Vidyaranyapura limits, threatened him with a stick and an iron rod, and claimed they had information that he was selling ganja. Under the pretext of searching, they allegedly extorted ₹87,000 through bank transfer, ₹53,000 in cash kept in the house, and ₹2,000 from his wallet.
Following Naveen’s complaint, Vidyaranyapura police registered a case and launched an operation, leading to the arrest of all four accused. Police have seized ₹45,000 in cash and the car used to commit the crime.
Further investigation is underway.
