Siddaramaiah demands white paper on COVID-19 cases, deaths in Karnataka; Govt says nothing to hide
Bengaluru, Mar 27: The Karnataka government neither intends to hide any figures on COVID-19 nor is it necessary, Health Minister K Sudhakar said on Saturday, as Congress leader Siddaramaiah demanded a white paper on infections and deaths, citing differences in number of fatalities due to pandemic till December 2020.
He also hit back at the Leader of Opposition, stating that people in responsible positions should refrain from making false allegations for political gains.
"According to the Department of Health and Family Welfare Services, the number of Covid-19 deaths till December 2020 is 12,090.
According to the Planning and Statistical department, it is 22,320.
Which of the above data is true?" Siddaramaiah asked Chief Minister Yediyurappa and Sudhakar.
Targeting the government in a series of tweets, he said that the BJP government's inefficiency, corruption and lies are the reasons for the rise in Covid-19 cases in Karnataka, and the people of the state are facing the crisis due to mistakes of the shameless administration.
Alleging that the BJP leaders have not just lied about the Covid-19 related deaths but also regarding medicines, masks, sanitizers, PE kits and other procurements, Siddaramaiah said Sudhakar has been 'consistently lying' to hide the corruption and inefficiency.
The government should immediately release white paper about the Covid-19 infection, deaths, treatment details and compensation paid, he said, adding that the pandemic can be won through treatment and not through lies.
Reacting to Siddaramaiah's charges, Sudhakar said the government neither intends to hide any figures nor is it necessary.
Observing that people in responsible positions should refrain from making false allegations for political gains, he said, "this is an insult to our corona warriors who are working tirelessly since 1 year."
Pointing to the figures mentioned by Siddaramaiah in his tweet, the Minister said they are provisional entries in e- janma software which are subject to reconciliation as per the guidelines issued by the Registrar General of India.
"The verification process is near completion and the final figures are yet to be released," he tweeted.
Responding to Siddaramaiah's tweet, Chief Registrar of Births and Deaths Karnataka said, "These figures of COVID deaths are provisional entries in eJanMa software which are subject to reconciliation as per the guidelines issued by Registrar General of India.
The verification process is near completion and the final figures will be released with the approval of RGI."
According to @DHFWKA, number of #Covid19 deaths till Dec 2020 is 12,090.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) March 27, 2021
According to Planning & Statistical dept, it is 22,320 till Dec 2020.@CMofKarnataka, @mla_sudhakar,
Which of the above data is true?
1/4#coronavirus pic.twitter.com/NJ8L3My0lp
.@BJP4Karnataka's inefficiency, corruption & lies are the reasons for the rise in #Covid19 cases in Karnataka.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) March 27, 2021
People of Karnataka are facing the crisis due to mistakes of the shameless @BJP4Karnataka government.
2/4#coronavirus pic.twitter.com/fzcnFSQf3Q
.@BJP4Karnataka leaders have not just lied about the #Covid19 related deaths, they have also lied about medicines, masks, sanitizers, PE kits and other procurements.@mla_sudhakar has been consistently lying to hide the corruption & inefficiency.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) March 27, 2021
3/4 pic.twitter.com/Vo6h32NWRv
.@BJP4Karnataka govt should immediately release white paper about the #Covid19 infection, deaths, treatment details & compensation paid.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) March 27, 2021
Covid19 can be won through treatment and not through lies.
4/4#coronavirus pic.twitter.com/oLqxzL8Vrt
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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.
