Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, May 7: Former minister B Ramanath Rai on Friday, May 7 demanded that the state government provide a package of essential items to the poor, before imposing a lockdown in the state to contain the second wave of Covid.

Speaking during a press meet at Congress Bhavan, Rai said, "Already, people are suffering due to financial instability. Our neighbouring state of Kerala has also announced packages for the public." 

He also advised the government to open up a 'Ganji Centre' in all the gram panchayats.

"Adhering to the Covid guidelines, start a canteen on the premises of Wenlock Hospital and make arrangements for the family members of Covid patients to stay in the hospital," he said.

"If Siddaramaiah-led government would have been in power, the people in the state would not have faced such a situation. But, Karnataka is being run by thieves. It is important to have a 'Janta ki Baat', instead of 'Mann Ki Baat'," Rai added. He further maintained that people are suffering due to the misadministration of state and union government.

Congress and Youth Congress have launched a Covid-19 ambulance and oxygen service. The party workers are also distributing food kits to the needy.

Youth Congress leader, Luqman Bantwal, Congress leader Sadhashiv Ullal, Shashidhar Hegde, Sahul Hameed, Naveen D'Souza, Prakash Salian, Vishwas Das, TK Sudhir, AC Vinayaraj, Praveen Alva and Subhod Alva were present at the press meet.