Congress files complaint with EC against BJP’s Sira candidate alleging cash-for-vote

Politics

The Congress alleged that distribution of money and liquor to voters has been rampant and that the BJP has “distributed money to over one lakh voters”.

TNM Staff

Screenshot

The Karnataka Congress has filed a complaint with the Chief Election Commissioner alleging that Rajesh Gowda, the BJP’s candidate for the Sira bye-elections along with BJP leaders, has been indulging in corrupt practices to influence voters ahead of the polls. KPCC Working President Saleem Ahmed, on Tuesday, filed the complaint after a video of a man, purported to be a BJP party worker, offering cash for votes went viral. A man wearing a saffron scarf, is seen addressing a group of women and asking them to vote for the BJP. He also offers them money, alleging that Hassan BJP MLA Preetham Gowda has instructed him to distribute money. The incident occurred in Tumakuru district’s Chitratahalli, which comes under the Sira constituency, where bye-polls are slated to be held on November 3.  “Our MLA Preetham Gowda has instructed us to give all of you money as an offering. He has asked us to give Rs 200 to each of you today and also give more money in the coming days and also give you money and other valuable things just before the election,” the party worker can be heard saying.  The man goes on to explain that voting for the BJP would be beneficial for the constituents of Sira as electing an MLA from an opposition party would mean that no funds would be sanctioned for developmental works. “At present, the BJP government is ruling the state and if in the present election the BJP MLA is elected, he will be able to solve your problems. This is because any other party candidate will be sitting in the opposition and no money will be released to the constituency by the state government if an opposition leader is elected,” the party worker states. Another video, along with the one that went viral, was released by the Karnataka Congress on Tuesday, where men, purported to be BJP party workers, can be seen distributing cash to the women. The money was seen to be given along with the “harashina-kunkuma” ritual, which is practised by Hindus, where women are offered vermillion and turmeric along with a token, after offering prayers to a deity. In this instance, the token allegedly was Rs 200 for each woman.  The Congress alleged that distribution of money and liquor to voters has been rampant and that the BJP has “distributed money to over one lakh voters”.  “The distribution of money is continuing unabated and more than one lakh voters have been given the money. The money distributed so far (in Sira constituency) would cross Rs 2 crore,” the Congress’ complaint to the Election Commission reads.  The party also called for an FIR against BJP leaders and the disqualification of the BJP candidate Rajesh Gowda. 

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Karnataka may get COVID-19 vaccine by early 2021: Health Minister

Coronavirus

This statement came following Health Minister K Sudhakar's meeting with AstraZeneca Managing Director Gagan Singh Bedi.

PTI

Representational image

Karnataka health minister Dr K Sudhakar on Tuesday expressed confidence that a vaccine for COVID-19 would be available early in 2021 and said the government would ensure that it reaches every nook and corner of the state after its launch. This statement came following his meeting with AstraZeneca Managing Director Gagan Singh Bedi, he said the first phase of trials of the vaccine were encouraging. "The first phase trial of the vaccine developed by Oxford/AstraZeneca has been completed and has shown encouraging results. The second and third phase trials are underway," he said. The Minister said Bedi had told him that the company, which was trying to launch the vaccine in the initial months of 2021, had the capacity to supply a billion doses. Once it came out in the market, the Karnataka government would ensure that it was made available "in every nook and corner of the state," he said. The first set of people to get it would be the Covid frontline warriors like doctors, nurses and paramedics, followed by elderly people with comorbidities, pregnant and lactating women and children, the minister said. To a question, he said the results of the first phase trial were encouraging, with 56 people who were administered the vaccine developing antigens, which has remained intact in them since then. "We need to wait for six months to see whether the antigens are maintained," Sudhakar said. To a question on the price of the vaccine, he said he did not wish to get into the "controversy" over it and would leave it to the discretion of Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa. He however, maintained that the state had been conducting tests and providing treatment free of cost. "Our government is committed to public health. We will make sure it reaches all," Sudhakar said. Members of the Karnataka Technical Advisory Committee on COVID-19, as also senior officials and experts on the subject were present during the meeting, the minister said.

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Mysuru Dasara celebration shows goddess Chamundeshwari slaying coronavirus

Festival

Many tableaux at the Dasara celebrations had COVID-19 related themes on display.

TNM Staff

Like every year, the Dasara festival celebrations in Mysuru's Amba Vilas palace grounds had stilt walkers and tableaux. However, the crowd was much thinner thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on public gatherings. Even in the muted celebrations, there was one scene that brought cheer to the onlookers – when goddess Chamundeshwari slayed the novel coronavirus on Monday. "The stilt walking artists who displayed the slaying of the coronavirus demon by Hindu goddess Chamundeshwari drew a lot of applause," a district official in Mysuru told TNM. Apart from the stilt walkers, many tableaux at the Dasara celebrations also had COVID-19 themed displays. The tableau of the state health department showed a nurse in blue personal protection equipment, wearing a mask and a head cap, holding a smaller structure shaped as a house, with a family inside. "The tableau of the state health department was also a major attraction in the Dasara finale in the palace grounds," an official from Mysuru said. The 410th year victory parade of caparisoned elephants (jumbo savari) to mark triumph of good over evil was also subdued due to the COVID-19 restrictions on large gathering in public places. The parade saw 54-year-old pachyderm Abhimanyu flanked by elephants named Vikrama, Gopi, and kumki elephants Vijaya and Kaveri in the finale. “As the 10-day annual event was held in the palace grounds, the victory procession had only two tableaux, with one of them being a replica of the elephant cart with police bands playing music," noted the district official. Frontline workers involved in Karnataka's COVID-19 response were also felicitated during the celebrations. In view of the COVID-19 guidelines, the victory parade had only four folk art troupes, two platoons of the mounted police, and two tableaux. Meanwhile, state Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said he prayed to Goddess Chamundeshwari to save people from the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure peace and unity. "People across the state are in distress due to the pandemic and flash floods following heavy rains and the southwest monsoon extending. We are taking steps to help the people," said the 78-year-old chief minister.

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'It isn’t me': Kodagu DC on viral video claiming she was felicitated for COVID-19 work

Video

Annies Kanmani Joy has earned praise for handling the COVID-19 crisis in Kodagu district.

Prajwal Bhat

On Monday evening, Kodagu Deputy Commissioner Annies Kanmani Joy was amused to receive WhatsApp videos and messages stating that she was being felicitated by the people of Kodagu for her role in helping manage the COVID-19 crisis in the district. Except, the woman in the video was not her. "That is not me in the video. Since yesterday (Monday), I am receiving endless messages about it but it's not me! I was told the video was shared on a Facebook page and then it was downloaded and circulated on WhatsApp," Annies told TNM. The woman in the video is an employee of an e-commerce firm Safe Shop India in Hyderabad, Boom Live reported. The video was forwarded along with a message which read, "She was a nurse in Trivandrum Medical College. She completed IAS and posted as District Collector in Kodagu. Because of her nursing experience, she could help Kodagu District to totally come out of COVID. She is getting a special treat from the people of Kodagu." Annies, a 35-year-old IAS officer in her first posting as a Deputy Commissioner in Kodagu, admits that there is some truth in the message. "I completed my nursing studies at the Medical College, Trivandrum in 2009 and I wrote the IAS exam and secured rank 65 in 2012. The details of our work to contain the spread of COVID-19 in our district is uploaded on our social media pages everyday," she says.  Before her posting as Kodagu DC, Annies worked as the Assistant Commissioner of Bidar, worked at the Karnaataka Bhavan and as the CEO, ZP of Tumakuru. She was posted as Kodagu DC in February 2019.  But Annies says that she was not felicitated by the public for her work amid the COVID-19 criss. "It is amusing to me to see the reaction because it is just the work we are doing and people are cooperating with the guidelines. People have love and respect towards me and people do appreciate the work here. But the person in that video is not me," she says. In March, at the start of the outbreak of COVID-19 cases in Karnataka, Annies moved quickly to shut down tourist spots in Kodagu before the nationwide lockdown was imposed on March 25. Kodagu, a hilly district with a sparse population, has recorded only 4720 COVID-19 cases and 61 related deaths since March. The district now has 306 active cases.  In the past month, the district has also hosted two major events - the Cauvery Theerthotsava and the Madikeri Dasara - with the district administration releasing strict guidelines for both events and restricting the entry of the public to a minimum. "It is a team effort with the health and medical education department leading the response. We had two major festivals with guidelines followed by the public," Annies says. On the day of the Theerthotsava, devotees were screened for temperature and symptoms and it was also ensured that those who were part of the festival celebration had tested negative for COVID-19.  In the one-and-half years in charge as Kodagu DC, Annies Joy has overseen a number of crisis situations including the devastating floods and landslides in the hilly district and the subsequent restrictions on commercialisation of agricultural land in Kodagu.  She is now gearing up to ensure that the district and its residents remain vigilant about the number of COVID-19 cases and ensure that tourist spots and homestays in the district are adhering to COVID-19 guidelines. 

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Bengaluru govt hospital staff dismissed for giving fake COVID-19 certificates

Coronavirus

The state government has dismissed the lab technician and has filed a complaint against him and one ASHA worker.

TNM Staff

PTI/Representation Photo

Bengaluru's civic body, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, on Tuesday conducted an inspection at a primary health centre in the city and found that the health workers and lab technicians were providing "fake COVID-19 negative certificates" to people in exchange for money.  This was uncovered at the Pobbathi City Primary Health Centre in VV Puram. The Department of Health and Family Welfare has fired one lab technician, who was a contract employee, in connection with the case. The department has also filed a complaint with the police against the health workers and the lab technician. "An FIR will be filed shortly as a complaint has been filed against the concerned staff. The lab technician, who was working on a contract basis, has been dismissed," Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar said.  ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಇಂದು 3,130 ಕೋವಿಡ್ ಪ್ರಕರಣಗಳು ಪತ್ತೆಯಾಗಿದ್ದು 8,715 ಜನ ಗುಣಮುಖ ಹೊಂದಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಈ ಮೂಲಕ ಸತತ 12ನೇ ದಿನವೂ ಗುಣಮುಖ ಹೊಂದಿದವರ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ ಹೊಸ ಪ್ರಕರಣಗಳನ್ನು ಮೀರಿಸಿದೆ. ಮಾಸ್ಕ್ ಧರಿಸುವುದು, ಕೈತೊಳೆಯುವುದು ಮತ್ತು ಭೌತಿಕ ಅಂತರ ಕಾಯ್ದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಮೂಲಕ ಕೋವಿಡ್ ವಿರುದ್ಧದ ನಮ್ಮ ಹೋರಾಟವನ್ನು ಮುಂದುವರೆಸೋಣ.@BSYBJP — Dr Sudhakar K (@mla_sudhakar) October 26, 2020 The incident came to light after the local media carried out a ‘sting operation’ at the clinic located in VV Puram. Soon after the sting operation was aired, BBMP officials conducted an inspection of the premises.  According to BBMP officials, the clinic was charging a price between Rs 2,500 and Rs 1,500 for a negative COVID-19 certificate. The officials said that the Accredited Social Health Activist, who was carrying out patient registrations, lured people who came to get a COVID-19 test into "buying a fake COVID-19 negative certificate".  BBMP officials said that the ASHA worker would negotiate the price and once it was fixed, she would take the person's mobile number. Instead of a swab sample, she would allegedly mix water in the swab sample kit and send it for testing. "They were sending out false swab samples and the lab technicians would give them the negative certificate," BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad said. The fake reports would reach the person's home via post and the said person would also receive a message on the mobile number they gave the ASHA worker.  State Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar has directed concerned BBMP Health officials to file a police complaint against the hospital. "A team of BBMP joint commissioner and health officials visited Bengaluru Pobbathi Maternity Hospital and inspected it. I have suggested strict disciplinary action against the ASHA worker and the lab technician involved in the fake COVID-19 tests," Dr K Sudhakar said. 

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Bengaluru's containment zones remain at 18, Mahadevapura reports most new COVID-19 cases

COVID-19

With 1,603 people testing positive for coronavirus in 24 hours, Bengaluru accounted for 51% of the new COVID-19 cases in Karnataka on Monday.

TNM Staff

PTI

In a span of 24 hours, 1,603 new people in Bengaluru tested positive for coronavirus, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases reported in the city till October 26 to 3,27,376. Bengaluru accounted for 51% of the new COVID-19 cases in Karnataka on Monday. The state reported 3,130 new cases. While 4,031 COVID-19 patients in Bengaluru recovered on Monday, 20 patients, sadly, succumbed to the disease. In a major relief, the number of containment zones across the city under the Bengaluru Bruhat Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) saw a massive decline in September and October. Currently, there are 18 containment zones, against 40,563 containment zones in August. In September, Bengaluru had a total of 16 containment zones. East Zone has five containment zones, while Dasarahalli and Mahadevapura have three containment zones each, followed by Bommanahalli and Yelahanka with two each. RR Nagara, South Zone and West Zone have one containment zone each. Between 12 am and 11.55 pm on October 25, Mahadevapura Zone reported more than 200 COVID-19 cases, closely followed by South Zone and East Zone. Among the recoveries, about 600 patients from the South Zone recovered from the diseases, followed by West and East Zones. BBMP zone-wise COVID-19 cases, recoveries and deaths in 24 hours Among the zones under BBMP, South Zone accounted for 17% of the COVID-19 cases in the last 10 days, followed by West Zone (16%), East (15%), Mahadevapura (15%), Bommanahalli (13%), RR Nagara (11%), Yelahanka (8%) and Dasarahalli (5%). West Zone has reported the most number of positive cases, according to the BBMP War Room bulletin on Monday. This is followed by South Zone and East Zone. The positivity rate in Bengaluru currently stands at 11.73%. Test positivity rate refers to the number of people testing positive for the disease among a group of people. The recovery rate is at 83.82%, while the death rate is at 1.15%, according to BBMP. On Monday, 8,715 patients recovered from COVID-19 in Karnataka, taking the total recovery to 7,19,558. A total of 75,423 patients are currently under treatment for COVID-19 in the state. Forty-two patients succumbed to the disease across the state.

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Doing bike stunts in Bengaluru? Cops to slap Rs 2 lakh fine on repeat offenders

Crime

Similarly, persons who tamper with their bike silencers will be penalised with a fine of Rs 50,000 for a second offence.

TNM Staff

Representational image

In an attempt to rein in illegal stunts performed by bikers in Bengaluru, the city traffic police have increased the penalty to Rs 2 lakh if anybody is caught doing stunts for the second time. Similarly, offenders who are caught for the first time will submit an undertaking before the jurisdictional Deputy Commissioners of Police under Section 107 of the CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure), reported The Hindu. Earlier, offenders were fined Rs 2000 which they had to pay in court and the police would recommend suspension of their driving licence and their vehicles would be seized. Similarly, persons who tamper with their bike silencers will be penalised with a fine of Rs 50,000 for a second offence. Even garage owners who modify these silencers will be penalised, police said. The Times of India reported that for the first time in the city’s history, police booked 28 such illegal stunt performers and made them sign a bond of Rs 2 lakh each. The report said that four garage owners too, were booked under section 110 of CrPC for abetment. The same report quoted Joint Commissioner of Traffic Police, Ravikanthe Gowda as saying that a special drive by the police caught 48 stunt riders and booked them under IPC (Indian Penal Code) section 279 (rash and negligent driving) for wheelies and drag racing. Among them, 28 were also booked under Section 107 of the CrPC for risking others lives by performing stunts in crowded places. These decisions to levy steep fines came after Police Commissioner Kamal Pant chaired a meeting over the issue of rising accidents due to these stunt riders. Earlier too, traffic police had carried out drives against modified silencers which create loud noises. According to the Motor Vehicles Act, if a vehicle's silencer produces over 80 decibels noise, it is considered to be causing noise pollution.

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