Karnataka health minister violates social distancing norms; takes out procession without mask
Bengaluru: Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu has come under criticism for allegedly violating social distancing and lockdown norms by participating in a procession in Chitradurga district on Tuesday in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to party sources, the procession was organized by supporters to felicitate Sriramulu, who is the district in-charge Minister of Chitradurga for ensuring the flow of water to the Vedavathi river from Vani Vilasa reservoir.
The minister was in the district to offer pooja to the river, they said.
In the visuals of the procession shown on local TV channels, flowers were showered on Sriramulu who was on a bullock cart and a mammoth garland made of apples presented to him using a crane.
Siramulu can be seen waving at the large gathering shouting slogans in his praise.
Most people standing in close proximity to the Minister can be seen not wearing masks.
Also a large number of people had gathered at the place not following social distancing.
Sriramulu's action has drawn flak, with several people on social media hitting out at the minister for not following what he preaches.
Many have accused the minister of violating social distancing norms and also lockdown restrictions as social and political gatherings are prohibited as per the guidelines.
The Congress in Karnataka questioned Sriramulu, asking whether the central and state government guidelines were not applicable to him.
It tweeted that his "irresponsible behavior" was sending a wrong message to people.
After coming to know about the widespread criticism, Sriramulu, later addressing the gathering, can be heard requesting people to follow social distancing and wear masks.
"There are reports in the media that people have gathered here in large numbers and no one is wearing a mask.
I request you to maintain social distancing to be safe from corona..we can't stop you, you people are strong and move ahead of us (during procession), you don't listen to us...listen to PM and CM and follow social distancing and wear masks," he can be heard saying.
"Such public meetings are not allowed, but looking at you we got emotional as you people will take me wrong if I don't talk to you..I'm canceling my other programs and going back," he added.
Earlier too, Sriramulu had been accused of violating social distancing during the supply of ration kits and meetings.
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BJP has history of ‘contradictory alliances’, says BK Hariprasad
Bengaluru: Congress MLC B. K. Hariprasad has launched a sharp attack on the BJP, accusing the party of hypocrisy over its criticism of alliance politics in Tamil Nadu.
In a post on X on Friday, Hariprasad said BJP leader B. L. Santhosh criticising the Congress party’s alliance politics in Tamil Nadu was “not just laughable, but the height of political contradiction.”
He said the Congress has always joined hands with like-minded parties to protect secular and democratic values in the country.
Hariprasad questioned the BJP over several of its past and present alliances across the country. Referring to Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Tripura, Bihar and Maharashtra, he accused the BJP of sharing power with parties it had earlier criticised.
He alleged that the BJP had aligned with separatist and corruption-linked political forces in different states for political gains.
“The BJP, which speaks against alliances today, should first look at its own political history,” he said, adding that the party’s record was full of “contradictions and changing stands.”
Hariprasad also accused the BJP of using central agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax Department and CBI as political tools to target opposition leaders, topple governments and influence electoral mandates.
He further claimed that the people of Tamil Nadu had strongly rejected the BJP and its ideology in the recent election.
“Congress forms alliances to protect the Constitution, secularism and national unity, while the BJP enters into alliances only for power,” he said.
