Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, May 30: Former minister and MLA U T Khader, addressing a press meet here on Saturday May 30, accused the state government of lacking dedication in handling coronavirus issue. He said that the doctors and nurses involved with this issue have not been paid salary since the last two months. "The government has totally neglected the corona warriors. During this difficult time of corona infection, these people are being harassed by not disbursing salaries. The government should immediately release their salaries. If the condition of corona warriors is so horrible, one can think of the plight of coronavirus infected patients," Khader said.

Speaking further on withholding of salary to corona warriors, Khader said that doctors, nurses, and lab technicians who fall under the National Health Mission, have not been paid their salaries. "In total, 26,000 people have not got their salaries since the last two months even though the doctors have worked without any rest during this period. Let the chief minster use money in the PM Cares Fund to disburse salary. Let them account for the money collected in this fund and give break-up figure of how the money is spent. If the government fails to pay salaries to corona warriors immediately, the Congress will hold protest," he warned.

Speaking on the issue of banning entry of people into the state from five states, Khader came down heavily on Karnataka government and termed this decision as wrong. "Does the government feel that Kannadigas in Maharashtra are not our own? Kannadigas are facing a lot of problems in different states. It is our duty to bring them here and care for them. We have to arrange for trains to bring them here. Other states have taken away people from Karnataka. Why is it not possible for us to bring Kannadigas from other states? The government has the responsibility of ensuring that they safely reach their homes. If we do not come forward to rescue Kannadigas, who will?" he thundered.

Khader was also critical of the state's decision to seal its borders with Kerala. He claimed that 20 percent of people in the city work in Kasargod, and an equal number of people from Kasargod work in the city. He pointed out that the people from both sides have now lost their employment. "Does the state government take responsibility of providing employment if these people lose their jobs? Let the government issue daily passes to allow them to work wherever they are. Even the MP and district in-charge minister need to look into these issues," Khader stressed.