From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jan 7: Continuing his tirade against the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP regime in the State over its Covid management strategy, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee Chief DK Shivakumar on Friday termed the daily night curfew and weekend curfew restrictions imposed in Karnataka as totally unscientific and demand their immediate withdrawal.

Addressing a news conference at the KPCC office, Shivakumar said the BJP government is not talking on scientific facts or ground realities but indulging in politics to browbeat the opposition and subject the people to unnecessary hardships without any valid reasons.

"This is not Covid curfew but BJP curfew and lockdown. People and businessmen as well as the working classes are suffering," he said pointing out that he has been receiving thousands of calls from concerned people demanding to know why the opposition is raising its voice against the government.

Shivakumar said the infection rate in the entire State was hardly 2% and there was no justification whatsoever for clamping curfew or lockdown. The government must come out with real facts on the number of people infected and hospitalised, how many are in ICU or on ventilators. The positivity rate and hospitalisation records must be released, he said.

The KPCC Chief quoted official figures to point out that the demand for oxygen was 800 metric tonnes during the second wave and 40% of hospital beds were occupied. The government claims that the infection rate was 3.9% on January 6 when the same government had mentioned that lockdown will have to be imposed if the positivity rate was 5%. When the BS Yediyurappa regime announced lockdown last year, the positivity rate was 33% or it was 10 times more than the present situation. In such a situation, what is the necessity for imposing curfew and weekend lockdowns, he asked.

He said as many as 12 crore people lost jobs during the last jobs, of whom 1 crore from Kannadigas as per official records. These unscientific restrictions and lockdowns would affect the State’s revenues and ultimately the burden will be passed on to the people. The Government has already borrowed Rs 78.000 crore additional loans and the position will deteriorate further.

Shivakumar pointed out that the State’s Health Secretary has in his affidavit before the Election Commission claimed that there was no problem or constraints in the State’s health system and that elections can be held without any problem. Now, suddenly what happened, he asked.

The KPCC Chief said as many as six cabinet ministers have opposed the night curfew and weekend lockdowns clamped throughout the State and have demanded that the lockdowns must be imposed only districts where the situation was bad. "I have already written to Chief Minister demanding withdrawal of the unscientific and unjustified restrictions," he said and cautioned the government against punishing people due to its political vendetta against the Congress party.

He said the government has asked the Deputy Commissioner to inform us through a letter that there is no permission for our padayatra demanding Mekedatu project. He probably assumed that thousands of people would assemble. "We will see what the government does. If permission is not given for the crowds to assemble, I and Siddaramaiah will walk. I am going to address a meeting in Kanakapura on Saturday while Siddaramaiah will do so in Mysuru. Let us see what the government does," he said.

The State had 30 deaths on December 30, 8 on December 31, there were 5 deaths on January 1, 6 on January 2, 5 on January 3, 4 on January 4, 2 on January 5 and 1 on Thursday. The death rate is coming down. But the government claims that even those suffering from cold and cough are infected by Covid. This type of jugglery of figures will harm the reputation of doctors.

In Ramanagara district, nobody is in ICU, there are no technicians in Oxygen centres. But government has ordered closure of hotels, resorts and home-stays because of our padayatra. Media should conduct a reality check and bring out the truth to expose the government, he suggested.

Shivakumar contended that the government is coming out with bogus figures and demanded that a High Court judge must inquire into the real situation. When more than 4 lakh persons died in the State, the government claimed 40,000 deaths to avoid paying compensation and announced Rs 1 lakh each, which also is yet to be paid.

The BJP government has no logic but following its own warped ideas. Even husband and wife sit together in the cinema theatres and in hotels and restaurants sitting side by side is not allowed and people must sit across the table face-to-face. In this kind of situation, who will go to cinema houses or hotels or restaurants, he asked and argued that the decisions must be taken based on scientific facts. Let the reports of the technical advisory committee given to government from time to time be placed in the public domain so that the people can judge for themselves, he demanded.