BJP govt failed to handle Covid crisis: Karnataka Congress

The opposition Congress on Tuesday alleged that the ruling BJP government in Karnataka failed to handle the Covid pandemic, resulting in untold hardship to the people and misery to thousands of migrant workers across the state over the last two months.

"The BJP government in the state failed to handle the crisis arising out of Covid outbreak and its spread since mid-March, taking unilateral decisions without discussing them with opposition parties," said Congress state unit president D.K.Shivakumar here.

Addressing the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting here, Shivakumar said the state government did not call the opposition parties for discussing the Covid crisis and problems the people faced during the prolonged lockdown thrust suddenly on March 24 night without prior notice or giving time to anyone to save them from the ordeal are facing since then.

"Whatever is the justification of the central and state governments in suddenly imposing the lockdown and extending it thrice till May 31, Coronavirus has not stopped and no scientific proof if its chain was broken, as evident from the number of positive cases spiking by the day across the state," Shivakumar thundered.

What Covid 19 has done to the people and their economy is unimaginable, as an invisible enemy has changed the way we look at our lives and future.

"The deadly virus has not only demonstrated man's inherent limitation, but also made all realize that there is nothing greater than humanity and service to society are the needy," Shivakumar asserted.

Offering his services to the state government in serving the people in a by-partisan manner, the former Congress minister said he would like to do a bit as a Kannadiga to his sisters and brothers reeling under virus fallout.

Clarifying that he was not looking for political advantage from the coronavirus fallout, the party's troubleshooter said he advised the party's cadres and supporters not to make the issue a party affair.

"I will submit a plan of my endeavour in a few days, taking into account the plans for lifting the lockdown although the ruling party has not involved us in its battle against the virus," lamented Shivakumar.

Besides CLP leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah, party's state unit's working presidents Satish Jarkiholi, Eshwar Kandre and Salim Ahmed, former party president G. Parameshwar and Dinesh Gundurao and other leaders like M.B. Patil and H.K Patil participated in the meeting and addressed the gathering.