Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Benglauru, May 9: Leader of the opposition in the assembly, Siddarmaaiah, has written to chief minister (CM), B S Yediyuappa, in the backdrop of lockdown being enforced in the state from tomorrow. He has given certain suggestions and asked the CM to consider them.
Siddaramaiah has asked the CM to lay stress on installation of district-wise oxygen units and set up Covid hospitals based on the availability of oxygen and also to set up temporary Covid hospitals. He wants to stop sale of vaccine in the blackmarket and address shortage of ICU, ventilators, oxygen beds etc and set up temporary hospitals in marriage halls, stadiums and hostels immediately.
Siddaramaiah has suggested giving ten kg rice per head to all people along with food kits containing pulses, cooking oil and other things. He has demanded payment of Rs 10,000 to all the BPL families, artisans, farmers, workers, drivers and other working people. He also wants proper packages to be announced after holding meetings, to small, micro, cottage industries, owners of vehicles etc.
In a series of tweets, Siddaramaiah said that the lockdown that has been imposed in the state has brought hardship to people. "More than coronavirus disease, people of the state are suffering because of the sick Karnataka BJP. Lockdown being implemented from Monday is mired in confusion and it need not come as a surprise if rural people revolt against it.
"As per the revised lockdown rules, provision has been made for shops dealing in provisions, vegetables, fish, meat etc to remain open from 6 am to 10 am. At the same time, vehicular movement has been banned during this period. This depicts the idiotic decision of the government," he tweeted.
"In rural places, shops and other establishments are located two to three kms away. Do you expect elders and infirm people to physically carry things needed by them for such long distances? Dear chief minister, if something happens to them due to the fatigue and stress, who is responsible? Don't you think those running the administration should have this much common sense at least?
"As per the new lockdown rules, banks, ATMs, hospitals etc in rural areas are open. But customers and sick people are barred from using vehicles to go there. There is provision for the hotels to give out parcels, but vehicles cannot be used to go there. How can one explain this other than terming the government as enforcing the Tughlaq rule?
"The administrators and officials of the state government who are out to implement the Covid rules should come out of their air-conditioned offices and visit villages and see for themselves the reality there.
"It is true that lockdown is inevitable to control the spread of coronavirus but the chief minister should have obtained report on the reality from the deputy commissioners instead of taking unilateral decision. If that was done, friction between the police and the public could have been avoided," he said.