From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Apr 14: "Lockdown doesn’t help. Enforcing another lockdown won’t help at all. It isn’t appropriate for the present situation,’’ said deputy chief minister and higher education minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters after the Dr B R Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations at the state BJP office, he said everybody coming to Bengaluru from outside must subject themselves to Covid testing.
Dr Narayan, who himself is a medical doctor, made it clear that he has been personally against the imposition of another lockdown in the state. "Nobody in society has the strength and wherewithal to bear with another lockdown. Lives and livelihood are also important. People have suffered enormously since the last one year and there is no point in subjecting people to another lockdown,’’ he said.
The deputy chief minister said Covid testing is done free of cost and there is no need to spend even a single paise on the testing. Everybody coming to Bengaluru must compulsorily undergo Covid testing and should not neglect to test. If there are any Covid symptoms, they should not be ignored, he said.
Dr Narayan advised the opposition parties not to politicize the Covid situation and instead spend their energies on educating the people. All of us should help in creating public awareness about the need for being careful about the pandemic. The Covid protocols must be followed without any deviation. It is in the interest of everybody to be cautious.
'Nobody is a Superman!'
"Nobody is a superman. Let us think that nothing will happen to us as we are strong. This kind of false bravado and over self-confidence will not help anyone. Let us remember that no one is a superman,’’ Dr Narayan said pointing out that Covid testing is being carried out in all primary health care centres and even Anganwadis and appealed to the people to make use of the free facilities to check themselves as it is in their own interest as well as their near and dear ones as well as neighbours.
The deputy chief minister said the state government is making every effort for carrying out testing, tracing and treatment of the Covid affected people.
The testing centres are being increased and information regarding such centres is provided to the people. More than a lac of tests are being done free of cost daily. Medicines and vaccines are available. The infected people can get treatment in hospitals or even undergo home isolation and get treatment, he said.
Dr Narayan said India has fared extremely well in handling the Covid situation. The country has excelled itself in the manufacture of vaccines and distribution to the neediest. A nationwide campaign of vaccination of the elderly and most vulnerable people is underway and India has become the first country in carrying out a vaccination campaign quickly.
'Second wave not so aggressive but spreading faster'
The deputy chief minister said the second wave of Covid pandemic presently in the country is as aggressive as was the situation during the first wave last year. But the second wave is spreading faster and poses more danger to the young and middle-aged.
Dr Narayan said many of the people were getting themselves properly tested despite having the symptoms of the disease and it is such people who are responsible for the worsening of the situation as they happen to be the super spreaders. People should be cautious even after being tested Covid negative.
He dismissed the allegation of the former chief minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy that the exports of the Covid vaccines to other countries were the reason for the shortages experienced in different parts of the country as totally baseless.
"There is no shortage of vaccines. The Centre has made sufficient preparations and planning for supply of vaccines in sufficient quantities to the states,’’ he said appealing to Kumaraswamy not to level allegations without being fully informed of the situation as it will only mislead the people.
He said the government is taking the opposition parties into confidence and taking all steps to keep the opposition leaders fully informed. Chief minister B S Yediyurappa has been meeting and discussing with opposition leaders from time to time. There is no question of keeping the opposition parties and the people in the dark as this is a life and death question for all, he said.
Dr Narayan also criticized the KPCC president D K Shivakumar for his baseless allegations against the Yediyurappa regime and said the opposition leaders must try to provide solutions and suggestions rather than finding fault with everything, he said.
'Congress party disrespected Dr Ambedkar'
Earlier, addressing the party workers after offering floral tributes to Dr B R Ambedkar’s photograph at the BJP office, the deputy chief minister said the architect of the Indian Constitution fought for the emancipation of Dalits and the oppressed sections of the society while the Nehru-dominated political system exploited such people.
He accused the Congress party of ill-treating Dr Ambedkar and engineered his defeat in the 1952 election besides ensuring his defeat in the subsequent election. Congress party did not give Dr Ambedkar the respect and honour, he said pointing out that Dr Ambedkar had all the qualities to become the President or Prime Minister of the country, he said asking the Congress party to apologise for dishonouring and disrespecting Dr Ambedkar 'at least now.'
The deputy chief minister said the greatness of Dr Ambedkar can be judged from the fact that his birth anniversary is celebrated in over 150 countries across the world.
BJP leader Narayanaswamy said Dr Ambedkar’s birth anniversary is celebrated in the homes of all BJP workers.
State BJP general secretary Siddaraju, BJP SC Morcha state vice-president and former MLAG N Nanjundaswamy and state SC/ST Commission member Venkatesh and other party leaders attended the function.