Nov 13: 245 new COVID cases, 3 deaths in Karnataka
Bengaluru, Nov 13: Karnataka on Saturday reported 245 fresh COVID-19 cases and three deaths, said the Health Department. These took the total number infected so far to 29,91,614 and the fatalities to 38,143, the department said.
It said 251 people were discharged thereby taking the total number of recoveries to 29,45,415. Active cases stood at 8,027.
Bengaluru Urban saw the most number of fresh cases at 154, and three deaths.
Other districts, too, reported fresh cases: 13 each in Mysuru and Uttara Kannada and 12 in Dakshina Kannada.
While 13 districts reported zero infections, 15 districts registered cases in single digit.
A bulletin said 11 districts reported zero infections and nil fatalities.
The positivity rate for the day was 0.24 per cent and the case fatality rate 1.22 per cent.
A total of 1,01,119 samples were tested in the State and they include 82,979 RT-PCR tests on Saturday. Thus, the cumulative number of specimens examined so far is 5.20 crore.
The number of people vaccinated till date in the State rose to 6.80 crore with 1,17,590 people being inoculated today, said the bulletin.
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Surjewala slams Pratap Simha’s ‘vile’ remarks on CM Siddaramaiah, demands apology from BJP
Bengaluru (PTI): Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the BJP over alleged disparaging remarks made by former Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during an assembly bypoll campaign in Bagalkote.
Simha made the remarks while campaigning for BJP candidate Veerabhadrayya Charantimath, triggering a political row ahead of the by-elections scheduled for April 9.
Congress has fielded Umesh Meti, son of former MLA late M Y Meti, whose death necessitated the bye-election.
"Pratap Simha's vile remarks about Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bagalkot have exposed the BJP's despicable politics once again," Surjewala said in a social media post.
Alleging a larger political design, he added, "It is increasingly evident that Pratap Simha’s outburst is driven by desperation," and accused the BJP of using such remarks to target backward classes, Scheduled Castes, and minorities.
The Rajya Sabha member further claimed that the incident reflects a pattern within the party. "This is not one man's madness—it is the BJP’s political culture," he said, adding that the remarks were aimed at "denigrating leaders from marginalised communities".
Referring to past incidents, Surjewala said, "CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar have received death threats in the past, including one from BJP leaders who warned that their bodies would be stuffed into a refrigerator."
The Congress leader also criticised the BJP’s bypoll campaign strategy, alleging "internal contradictions".
He pointed to the party’s use of expelled MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal in campaigning despite earlier disciplinary action against him, accusing the BJP of resorting to "abuses and indignities" against opposition leaders.
Surjewala demanded immediate action from the BJP leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, state president B Y Vijayendra, and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka.
He said they must tender a public apology to Kannadigas, particularly to OBCs, SCs, and minorities, over the remarks, and urged the party to expel Simha if it does not repudiate his statements.
Surjewala also called for legal action, demanding that an FIR be registered against Simha and that strict measures be taken.
Warning of "political consequences", he said the electorate in the bypoll-bound constituencies would respond decisively if the BJP failed to apologise, asserting that voters would "teach the BJP a befitting lesson" in the elections.
There has been no immediate reaction from the saffron party yet.
