Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV)
Mangalore, May 23: Minister for health and family welfare U T Khadar on Friday May 23 said that though Congress party lost in the recent Lok Sabha elections, the party leaders and workers will continue to support Janardhan Poojary, who was candidate, and will not allow him to retire from politics.
Addressing a press meet here, Khadar, in reply to a reporter's query on Janardhan Poojary's defeat, said, "Janardhan Poojary will not take retirement from politics just because of this defeat. We (Congress party) will not allow him to retire."
He added, "Janardhan Poojary is a good person and with his help, we will reorganize the Congress party in the district. District incharge minister Ramanath Rai and youth services and sports minister Abhaychandra Jain too worked a lot to ensure his victory, but unfortunately we did not win. However, we respect the people's verdict."
Elaborating on the steps taken against the spread of Mers Coronavirus, he said the government of India has received directives from World Health Organization (WHO) to take precautionary measures against disease which has created panic in the Middle Eastern countries.
"The central govt has ordered all states to take precautionary measures to prevent spreading of Mers Coronavirus. The Karnataka government has set up screening centers at Mangalore and Bangalore airports for passengers from Middle East countries. Doctors will screen passengers based on symptoms and examine them for Mers. It would not be possible to screen each and every passenger. Caution boards would be put up and passengers can voluntarily approach the health surveillance teams to get themselves examined," he said.
"Ten beds will be reserved in the district hospital for patients sufferings from Mers. The state medical officers will meet to discuss this issue further. The main intention is to prevent this disease from spreading," he added.
Taking a jibe at the BJP over PM-elect Narendra Modi's invitation to Pakistan PM Nawaz Shariff for the oath-taking ceremony, he said, "The BJP came to power by misleading the people. Earlier, whenever the Manmohan Singh-led government spoke of having good relationship with our neighbours, BJP used to call it politics of appeasement. But now Modi has invited Pakistan PM Nawaz Shariff for his oath-taking ceremony. They (BJP) are betraying the people by doing so. Modi should tell the people why he has invited Pakistan PM. People have the right to know.
"We also want to know when they (BJP) are planning to bring black money back to India," he added.
Asked to comment on the criticism surrounding AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi over the poor show of the Congress party in the elections, Khadar said, "No one is criticising Rahul Gandhi. If someone criticizes Rahul Gandhi it means they have failed to understand him. Today or tomorrow he will become the Prime Minister of India."
On steps taken to control sea erosion, Khadar said, "The government has sanctioned Rs 299 crore for sea erosion prevention project. Out of that, Rs 223 crore will be used in the first phase for the construction of a breakwater from Kotepura to Ellarnagar. In the second phase, Rs 26 crore will be used to construct a breakwater from Someshwar to Uchila to Talapady. This will bring permanent solution to the problem of sea erosion."
He said there was a scarcity of doctors in the state, and those doctors working on contract basis from three years will be made permanent. He added that vacancies for posts of doctors and nurses will also be filled, and that while MBBS doctors will be paid on the same scale assistant commissioners, PG doctors will get salary on the same scale as assistant deputy commisioners.
Ibrahim Kodijal, Ishwar Ullal and others were present.
Mers disease: Gulf passengers to be screened at Mangalore airport