Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, May 28: District Congress Committee president Harish Kumar on Friday, May 28 said that the BJP leaders in the district are misleading the people by giving various statements to the media, to hide their lapses in handling the Covid-19 situation in the state as well as in the country.
He was speaking in a press meet at Congress Bhavan here.
"Congress as an opposition party has a duty to expose the failure of the ruling party. As BJP leaders are not able to tolerate the anguish of the people, due to the mishandling of the Covid situation in the state, they are hurling allegations against Congress. In order to retain their image, they have involved in various political gimmicks. Instead of controlling the damage caused by Covid, they are busy repairing the damage done to PM Narendra Modi's image," he said.
Terming the BJP-led state and union government as a 'double engine' government, Harish Kumar said that both the union and state governments have completely failed in handling the impact of Covid-19.
He also said that despite being in the opposition, Congress is helping the needy in the district by launching the Covid-19 task force and helpline number which functions 24/7. "Through the Congress Covid war room, our party is providing medical assistance, ambulance facilities, distributing medical kits, conducting vaccination programme and providing other essential services to the people," Harish Kumar said.
"Youth Congress is involved in helping with the cremation process of the Covid-19 victims, without discriminating on the basis of religion, caste and creed. So far, the party workers have cremated 45 victims," Kumar added.
Taking a dig at Mangaluru South MLA Vedavyas Kamath, Harish Kumar said, "MLA Kamath is speaking about the 'Rajadharma'. We are all aware when Atal Bihari Vajpayee asked the then Gujarath chief minister to follow the 'Rajadharma' post-Godhra violence in Gujarat. BJP need not teach Congress, the party which fought for freedom and one which has always been in the service of the people about 'Rajadharma'."
"Instead of giving politicals statements, BJP should talk about the number of people that have been vaccinated and the measures adopted to contain the spread of coronavirus," he said.
"The BJP government is not accepting any suggestion given by the Congress. Though it is seeking cooperation. The cooperation BJP want is for the Opposition to not point finger at their failures in handling Covid." Kumar also alleged that BJP is trying to control media and social media platforms.
Defending UT Khader, Harish Kumar said, "BJP leaders should visit Wenlock, Lady Goschen, Ayush hospital and a hospital in Ullal along with former MLA Yogish Bhat. Because MLA Bhat knows what are the developments that were done at these hospitals when UT Khader was the health minister."
He also said that UT Khader had upgraded PHC and UHC in the district and the dialysis centre that was set up in all the taluk centres and hospitals were upgraded.
"Khader also had increased the number of 108 ambulances from 200 to 800 in the state. After the BJP government came to power, no such contribution was done. The government failed in providing sufficient vaccines, salaries on time to doctors, nurses, and hospital staff. Further, an associate of a BJP MP is involved in a hospital bed scam," he alleged.
The Congress leader further went on to say that the country is in such a bad state that even underdeveloped countries are coming forward to help India by sending oxygen containers. "The BJP leaders visit foreign countries for only photo op."
"Congress' Covid war room has received 7,000 calls with people asking for various forms of help. 500 calls were seeking ambulance service and there have been around 13 ambulances providing free of cost service. Congress has provided 10,000 grocery kits to those in need. Even medical kits were distributed by Congress party workers," he said.
Congress leaders Sadashiva Ullal, Niraj Pal, Saleem, Prakash Salian, Shalet Pinto and others were present.