K'taka Congress seeks legislative session on Covid situation

Bengaluru, June 26 Accusing the ruling BJP government of failing to manage the coronavirus pandemic in the state, the Karnataka Congress on Friday called for a legislative session to discuss the grim situation arising out of rising cases of infection, especially in this tech city.

"The state government should convene the legislative session to discuss the grim situation in the state arising out of its failure to control the virus spread in Bengaluru and other cities," opposition party's state unit president D.K. Shivakumar told reporters here.

The party also asked the state government to bring out a white paper on the Covid-19 crisis in the southern state, as the cases have been rising by the day since unlock 1.0 was allowed from June 1.

"The central and the governments implemented the lockdown untimely, destroying the people's health and the state's economy, as strict measures were not taken to stop the infection from spreading as evident from the numbers," party leader in the assembly and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said.

With 445 fresh cases on Friday, the number of positive cases in the state crossed the 11,000-mark so far, including 144 cases in Bengaluru.

"As the extended lockdown was not strictly enforced, the infections have been rising over the last 2-3 weeks to 11,005 from 3,408 on June 1, with more relaxation of restrictions under unlock 1.0," lamented Shivakumar.

As 6,916 patients, including 246 on Friday cured and discharged, the active cases are 3,905 across the southern state.

"The lockdown should be re-imposed now, as cases are increasing and they are expected to go up till September according to health experts," asserted Siddaramaiah.

State Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, however, ruled out fresh lockdown as reviving the state's economy was equally important.

"There will be no fresh lockdown in Bengaluru where all efforts were underway to control the spread of corona virus as reviving the state's economy was equally important," Yediyurappa said at a meeting of city legislators and members of Parliament on measures to contain the pandemic.

( With inputs from IANS )