Nov 8: 283 new COVID-19 cases, 6 deaths in Karnataka
Udupi district records 5 new Covid-19 cases, one death
Bengaluru, Nov 8: Karnataka logged 283 new COVID-19 cases and six deaths on Monday, taking the total number of infections to 29,90,235 and the toll to 38,118.
The day also saw 290 discharges, taking the total number of recoveries in the state so far to 29,44,099, a health department bulletin said.
Bengaluru Urban topped in the number of cases (159), as the city saw 104 discharges and one death.
The total number of active cases in the state is now 7,989.
While the positivity rate for the day stood at 0.26 per cent, the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) was 2.12 per cent.
Out of 6 deaths reported on Monday, two were from Mysuru and one each from Bengaluru Urban, Koppal, Tumakuru and Udupi.
Behind Bengaluru in number of cases was Hassan 24, Mysuru 15, Kolar 11, Dakshina Kannada 10, followed by others.
Bengaluru Urban district topped the list of positive cases, with a total of 12,52,990, followed by Mysuru 1,79,312 and Tumakuru 1,20,897.
Among discharges too, Bengaluru Urban was on top with 12,30,274, followed by Mysuru 1,76,704 and Tumakuru 1,19,558.
Cumulatively a total of 5,14,92,433 samples have been tested in the state so far, out of which 1,05,278 were tested on Monday alone.
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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.
