Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Apr 26: Former MLC and Congress leader Ivan D'Souza urged the state government to provide free Covid vaccination for the public. He also asked the union government to cancel the Rs 20,000 crore project of metro expansion, Rs 8,500 crore project of buying ultra modern aircraft and use the funds to buy vaccines for coronavirus pandemic and save the lives of Indian citizens.

In a press release, Ivan said, "Union and state governments have totally failed to provide oxygen beds, ventilators and general beds to coronavirus-infected patients. Though 180 to 200 deaths are occurring every day, the governments in the state and the union are not taking any action. This shows the utter negligence of both the state and union governments in handling the second wave of coronavirus pandemic. More than 30,000 patients are getting infected in the state every day. All those who died recently in the state have died because of lack of oxygen. As there is a shortage of beds, the government has to immediately make arrangements for at least one lac beds. If marriage halls, hostels, indoor stadiums and colleges that are vacant are not converted into rooms with oxygen beds it will not be possible to save the lives of coronavirus infected patients. But, the irony is that the state government is giving priority to decide how many people should attend the funeral ceremony rather than looking into providing more oxygen beds. If the state government does not wake up immediately and take necessary action, the number of people dying due to coronavirus will skyrocket. All the citizens of Karnataka are scared as the supply of oxygen is low."

"Coronavirus infected Bengalurians are migrating to other districts of the state as oxygen beds are not available in Bengaluru. Many have come to the city of Mangaluru and are getting treated in hospitals where oxygen beds are available. However, the health minister is falsely claiming that there is no scarcity of oxygen in the state including Bengaluru," he added.

"I hereby urge the central and state governments to release a white paper mentioning the actions they will be taking in the coming week, fortnight and month to eradicate coronavirus pandemic. It is the naked truth that the lack of farsightedness and aimless decisions of the state and union governments have failed to contain the second wave of coronavirus."

"The union government has released 20,000 crore aid for extension of metro trains. Instead of giving advertisements where the CM is thanking PM Modi or even the part where modern aircraft is being bought for Rs 8,500 crore, funds should be used to buy coronavirus vaccine for everyone. By deferring these projects temporarily it will be possible to save many lives," Ivan said.

"All the 25 BJP MPs of Karnataka should hold a protest in front of the residence of PM Modi and urge him to provide oxygen for Karnataka and free vaccines for all the six and a half crore Kannadigas. In addition, they should also ask him to provide financial relief for the families who lost their loved ones to the pandemic," he urged.

"In the district of Dakshina Kannada, 500 to 600 people are getting infected with coronavirus every day. But only 3,500 beds are available in the district. Out of this, only 300 beds are ICU beds, 274 are oxygen beds and 75 are ventilator beds. This is not enough. More than 4,000 people are being treated in various hospitals. Some financially poor patients are getting themselves treated in hospitals where there is no facility for Ayushman cards. Government has to bear expenses in such situations," he added.

"Hostels, hotels and indoor stadiums in the district have to be taken over by the government and converted into a facility which has beds equipped with oxygen. It should have at least 5,000 oxygen beds and this is something that is possible to do in a day or two. Many coronavirus patients are scared that they will not get oxygen beds in hospitals.

"There are more than 15 lac people eligible to take the vaccination. However, the state government is not able to supply the vaccine, as they are not able to procure the same. The state government is indirectly encouraging people to go to private hospitals and get vaccinated for a price," the Congress leader said.

"If all the above demands are not fulfilled I hereby would like to inform you that protest against state and union government is inevitable."

Dakshina Kannada district Youth Congress president, Lukman Bantwal, district Congress office secretary, Nazeer Bajal, OBC state spokesperson, Ganesh Poojary and S K Souhan were present at the press meet.