Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MS)
Mangaluru, Apr 2: MLA Vedavyasa Kamath and Dr Y Bharath Shetty as well as MP of Dakshina Kannada Nalin Kumar Kateel have strongly condemned the pressurizing tactics of Kerala chief minister (CM) Pinarayi Vijayan with the central government to open the border to give access to the city of Mangaluru for people of Kerala state.
In series of tweets, MLA Vedavyas Kamath ridiculed Kerala CM Vijayan and said, "Why Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, who had challenged chief minister of UP, Adityanath Yogi that Kerala has the best medical facilities in the country, is asking for help from hospitals in Mangaluru?
(L to R): Vedavyasa Kamath, Nalin Kumar Kateel and Dr Bharath Shetty
"The man who had made a false propaganda that the King of Dubai has donated Rs 700 crore as flood relief to Kerala and insulted the country saying that PM Modi has not given any compensation is asking the help of the very PM today?
"One of the basic facility for citizens is healthcare and people of Kasargod rely on Mangaluru city for the same. What kind of development is yours then which you boast? No. We will not allow our borders to open come whatever may."
MP of Dakshina Kannada district Nalin Kumar Kateel also echoed the same sentiments of MLA Vedavyas Kamath and wrote on his twitter account "The only way to counter coronavirus (Covid-19) is to maintain social distance. The borders of all the districts in the state are closed in order follow the same. It is really foolishness to ask to open the border of Karnataka and allow the Keralites to be treated in Mangaluru.
"It is really a tragedy that the Kerala government, which boasted that theirs is #Kerala Model in the whole country, is depending on other state for medical facilities of its citizens. During a crisis like Covid-19, the protection of people of our state is our first priority. There is no doubt about it.
"No one has stopped people from Kerala coming to Mangaluru for medical treatment at other times. But protecting the people of respective states during the Covid-19 crisis is the responsibility of state governments. So Karnataka government has taken certain steps to protect its citizens.
"Covid-19 cases are in whole of Karnataka state are far lesser than that of Kasargod district of Kerala alone. If the border of Karnataka is opened for Kerala, there is no doubt that they will come to Mangaluru for treatment. It is not right on the part of Karnataka government to put our people in jeopardy during this crisis.
"People of Kasargod and Mangaluru have always lived in harmony. Till today, be it education or medical treatment, no one has stopped people from Kasargod from coming to Mangaluru. But the present situation is different. Dear Pinarayi Vijayan, do not create conflict between us and people of Kasargod, in order to gain political benefit. Please provide them with required medical facilities."
MLA of Surathkal constituency Dr Bharath Shetty also supported the decision of state government of not opening the border to Kerala and tweeted, "While your party was boasting about healthcare facilities in your state, why are you now approaching court to get your patients treated in Mangaluru? Admit that you have failed miserably to provide healthcare facilities in Kerala.
"Fifty per cent of Covid-19 cases in Wenlock are from Kasargod. With the failure of Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan's administration and healthcare facilities, Kasargod alone has more than 100 cases of Covid-19. We cannot let this Pandemic to spread to Dakshina Kannada."