Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, May 16: MLA and former minister U T Khader, addressing the media here on Saturday, May 16, expressed anger at the lackadaisical handling of coronavirus pandemic by the district administration.

He asked the state government and district administration to consider with all seriousness the fact that Dakshina Kannada district has witnessed five corona-related deaths. He expressed surprise at the fact that there are patients who die within a matter of three days since being diagnosed as coronavirus positive. "Does the district administration think that lives of people have no value? It should not take these things lightly. The health department should investigate the causes for these deaths. When an infected person dies, the disease spreads to 150 people as per a study," he remarked.

Khader expressed anger at the failure of the concerned to reach to the root cause of spread of infection in the district. He said that there is no clarity with the district administration on any issue. He asserted that distribution of kits will not drive away viruses and blamed the district administration for its failure to regulate the spread of the virus.

Referring to the issue of Rs 20 lac crore rupees package announced by the central government to boost the economy, Khader remarked that just like other countries, India too has announced a package. "The government has increased the quantum of loans to farmers but did not waive interest. The Prime Minister had said that a sum of Rs 15 lac would be credited to individual accounts. Now he can credit at least Rs 15,000 to the accounts and keep his word," he said.

The MLA observed that the state government has not announced any new schemes, and that the chief minister had just repeated the announcement he had made earlier for fishermen and weavers. He said that Mangaluru airport has been overlooked in the implementation of 'Vande Bharat Mission'. "Kannur airport in Kerala is getting many flights. Here, only one flight arrived, that too because of the interest taken by union minister D V Sadananda Gowda," he remarked.

Khader regretted the fact that no flights are coming from other countries to Mangaluru and criticized Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, of being busy sitting at a place and distributing kits. He said that an MP is doing a work that is expected from a corporator. He said that the MP is directly responsible for such a few flights arriving in Mangaluru.