Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru Mar 24: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) coordinator Prathiba Kulai condemned the move of deputy commissioner (DC) Dr K V Rajendra who sprang a surprise on public and penalised violators of Covid-19 guidelines.

Addressing media here on Wednesday March 24, Prathiba said, “The DC was silent without taking any action during the river festival which was held on March 20 and 21. The video of the river festival with jam-packed crowd is going viral in social media. During the raid by the DC, we noticed an employee of a petrol pump being pulled towards the jeep as if he has committed some crime. The Covid-19 guidelines should be applicable for everyone. Why only the poor are targeted?

“Mangaluru City Corporation officials are seen imposing Rs 1,000 fine for big commercial shops and Rs 5,000 for small shops in case of Covid norms violation. Imposing fine is not a solution. Instead, they should have given mask to those who were not seen wearing mask. That is the way to create awareness,” she said.

She also alleged lobbying of vaccine by the government. “MP Nalin Kumar Kateel took vaccine from a private hospital. Is he advertising private hospital? Does he not trust the vaccine given by government hospitals?” she questioned.