Category: SPECIAL

Gandhinagar, July 13 (IANS) The Gujarat government has stepped up surveillance, treatment and vector-control measures to contain the Chandipura virus after confirming seven positive cases from 19 laboratory-tested samples and reporting three child deaths linked to the infection this year.

The state government’s response was reviewed at a high-level meeting chaired by Health Minister Praful Pansheriya at the Secretariat in Gandhinagar on Monday.

Senior officials reviewed the current situation and directed the health department to strengthen disease surveillance, ensure timely treatment and intensify preventive measures across affected areas.

Addressing the media after the meeting, Pansheriya said laboratory testing was being carried out on a priority basis to ensure early diagnosis.

“Laboratory testing for the accurate diagnosis of the Chandipura virus is progressing rapidly. Of the 27 suspected cases, results for 19 have been received. Seven have tested positive and 12 negative, while the results of the remaining eight samples are expected by this evening,” he said.

The minister expressed grief over the deaths of three children who had tested positive for the virus this year and instructed the health department to ensure that no further lives are lost.

“The Health Department, in coordination with the Indian Medical Association (IMA), had issued guidelines to all paediatric specialists in the state and directed them to remain in close coordination with the department’s headquarters in Gandhinagar,” he said.

Doctors running smaller health centres and private clinics have also been instructed to provide immediate primary care and, without delay, refer suspected Chandipura patients to larger hospitals equipped with oxygen and ventilator facilities.

Pansheriya said preventive measures had been completed at all 61 locations where Chandipura virus cases were reported in Gujarat during 2024.

“Health Department teams have completed medicine spraying and public awareness programmes on a war footing at all 61 locations where Chandipura virus cases were reported last year. Not a single new case has been reported again from any of those locations,” he said.

He added that authorities had immediately launched fogging, sandfly-control spraying and sanitisation drives in newly affected areas.

The government has also ensured adequate stocks of medicines and essential medical supplies at health facilities across the state, including primary health centres.

The minister said the Health Department was continuously monitoring the situation under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and had directed officials to further intensify medicine distribution, fogging, and surveillance activities.

He also appealed to parents to seek immediate medical attention if children develop symptoms such as fever, vomiting or unconsciousness.

“If any child develops symptoms such as fever, vomiting or unconsciousness, parents should immediately contact the nearest government health centre,” he said.

The review meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Rajiv Topno, Urban Health Commissioner Dr Sandhya Bhullar, Rural Health Commissioner Dr Ratankanwar Gadhvi Charan, Director of Public Health Dr Nilam Patel and other senior Health Department officials.

–IANS

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Bengaluru, July 13 (IANS) The process for expansion of the Karnataka Cabinet is expected to gather momentum after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi returns from his foreign visit, with a series of political meetings in Bengaluru and New Delhi indicating that the party high command is likely to take a final call in the coming days.

More than 40 days after Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar assumed office, the Cabinet remains incomplete with only 13 ministers. Although the Congress leadership has not announced a timeline, party sources indicated that consultations are expected to intensify once Rahul Gandhi returns to India.

AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge is currently in Bengaluru and is expected to return to New Delhi shortly. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is also likely to visit the national Capital this week to hold discussions with the Congress high command.

According to insiders the long-awaited expansion of the Karnataka Cabinet is likely to take place by July 17, with a series of high-level meetings in Bengaluru and New Delhi indicating that the Congress high command is close to taking a final decision.

AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge is expected to return to New Delhi on Tuesday. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is currently on a foreign visit, is also expected to return either on Tuesday (July 14) or later this week. Chief Minister Shivakumar is expected to travel to Delhi this week, where the Cabinet expansion is likely to be finalised after consultations with Rahul Gandhi and Kharge.

On Monday, several Congress MLAs met Shivakumar at his official residence, Krishna, in Bengaluru, where discussions were reportedly held on the impending Cabinet expansion. Sources said both Shivakumar and KPCC President B.K. Hariprasad are awaiting the high command’s final approval before announcing the new ministers.

Lobbying for ministerial berths has intensified over the past few days. Several ministerial aspirants have met AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence in Delhi to press their claims.

Former minister N.S. Bose Raju and MLA Basanagouda Badarli travelled to Delhi on Monday, while Minister Priyank Kharge is also expected to be in the national Capital. Their visits have further fuelled speculation that the Cabinet expansion is imminent.

Senior Congress leaders, including MLAs Ashok Pattan, Shivalinge Gowda and Raju Gowda, also met Mallikarjun Kharge in Bengaluru on Monday morning. Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre is understood to have discussed the Cabinet expansion and other political developments with the AICC President.

Speaking in Kalaburagi on Monday, Urban Development Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah said the Chief Minister and party leaders would travel to Delhi whenever summoned by Rahul Gandhi and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge.

“Whenever the high command calls us, we will go to Delhi and discuss the matter with the national leadership,” Yathindra said, adding that the Chief Minister is currently holding zonal meetings to review the drought situation across the state.

The Cabinet expansion assumes significance as the Congress government is facing criticism over the delay in filling vacant ministerial posts. The state is also grappling with drought conditions in several districts, flood-related concerns in some regions and questions over the law and order situation.

With the Karnataka Legislature’s Monsoon Session expected to be convened in the first week of August, the Congress leadership is under pressure to complete the Cabinet expansion before the Assembly meets.

Party sources believe Rahul Gandhi’s return to Delhi is likely to pave the way for the long-pending exercise, with Mallikarjun Kharge expected to hold consultations with him before a final decision is announced.

–IANS

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Bengaluru, July 13 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday said the state government will decide on releasing Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu only after the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) meeting scheduled for July 15, while also announcing that the Monsoon Session of the Karnataka Legislature will commence on August 6.

Speaking to reporters outside his official residence, Krishna and Shivakumar said the state would present its case strongly before the Cauvery Water Management Authority, taking into account Karnataka’s drinking water requirements and farmers’ interests.

He said that on the Cauvery issue, they have to protect the interests of their farmers, ensure the supply of drinking water and comply with the Supreme Court’s directions regarding Tamil Nadu’s share of water.

He added that the Cauvery Authority meeting is scheduled for July 15, and they would present Karnataka’s case there, with a decision to be announced afterwards.

Responding to a question on the demand by legislators from Mandya for the release of Cauvery water, the Chief Minister said MLAs from Mandya and Srirangapatna, along with the district in-charge minister, had met him regarding the issue and submitted their views.

He said the decision would be announced after the Cauvery Authority meeting.

Shivakumar also announced that the Karnataka Legislature’s Monsoon Session is proposed to begin on August 6.

Asked about the Cabinet meeting and his proposed visit to New Delhi, he said he would travel to the national capital for official work for a day, and that party leaders would finalise the date for further discussions in the next few days, after which he would visit Delhi again.

Reacting to the suspension of the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) Chairman by the Governor, Shivakumar said the Governor had issued the order and that he had directed the senior-most member of the Commission to discharge the responsibilities of the Chairman until further orders.

The Chief Minister also spoke about the decision regarding the first “Aarti” at the Tirumala temple.

He said the privilege of receiving the first Aarti had historically belonged to Karnataka since the days of the Mysore Maharajas. Instead of a designated government official, the opportunity would now be extended to public representatives, judges, government officials, Members of Parliament, mayors, tahsildars and other dignitaries from Karnataka.

He added that this facility would not be restricted to any particular political party, and that public representatives from any party who visit Tirupati would be eligible, subject to the prescribed guidelines.

He clarified that the decision was limited only to the first Aarti, and that all other rules and procedures would continue to be governed by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams administration.

Shivakumar also paid tributes to senior Congress leader and former MP H. Hanumanthappa, describing him as a veteran statesman who had made significant contributions to both the state and the country.

–IANS

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Vadodara, July 13 (IANS) The Congress formally launched its campaign for the Manjalpur Assembly bye-election on Monday, with Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee president Amit Chavda describing the contest as a referendum on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s governance in Vadodara and urging voters to back the Congress’ candidate, former state minister Bhikha Rabari.

Addressing the media during the party’s ‘Vijay Vishwas Sabha’ in Vadodara before accompanying Rabari to file his nomination papers, Chavda said the bye-election was not merely about filling a vacant Assembly seat but about challenging the BJP.

The Manjalpur seat fell vacant following the death of eight-time BJP MLA Yogesh Patel on June 2. The Election Commission issued the notification for the bypoll on July 6, with July 13 being the last date for filing nominations.

Scrutiny of nominations will take place on July 14, candidates can withdraw their nominations until July 16, polling is scheduled for July 30 and votes will be counted on August 3. The election process is to conclude by August 4.

Introducing the Congress candidate, Chavda said Rabari had served as a minister in the Gujarat government, is currently a vice-president of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, and had spent years working among people while consistently raising issues affecting poorer sections of society.

“I thank our respected national president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, our state in-charge Mukul Wasnik, and the entire leadership for selecting Bhikha Rabari as our candidate,” Chavda said.

He said party leaders, workers and people from different sections of society had welcomed Rabari’s candidature and joined him for the filing of his nomination papers.

“The Manjalpur election is not merely an election for one Assembly constituency. It is a fight against the corruption, mismanagement and high-handedness of the BJP’s triple-engine government in Vadodara city, where attempts are made to suppress the voice of the people through the misuse of power,” Chavda alleged.

He accused the BJP of failing to address recurring civic issues in the city, claiming that every monsoon the Vishwamitri River witnessed “man-made floods” caused by corruption, resulting in damage to people’s homes and property.

He also alleged that corruption, inflation, unemployment and education would be among the key issues raised by the Congress during the campaign.

“We will go to every household and meet every voter. The people of Vadodara will send a message to the whole of Gujarat and the country by blessing the Congress on the Manjalpur seat that the BJP’s corrupt rule will face rejection in 2027,” Chavda said.

Rabari, a senior Congress leader and former state minister, was announced as the party’s nominee for the bye-election earlier on Sunday.

His candidature sets up a direct contest with the BJP, which has fielded Satish Patel for the closely-watched Vadodara seat.

–IANS

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Bengaluru, June 12 (IANS) Karnataka unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) urged the state government not to allow the privatisation of the power sector, warning that such a move could force farmers to take to the streets in protest.

Speaking to reporters at the state BJP headquarters in Bengaluru on Friday, former Deputy Chief Minister and MP Govind Karjol alleged that the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) and the state government were creating anxiety among farmers. He claimed that the government’s plan to allow private companies such as Tata Power to participate in electricity distribution could trigger widespread opposition from the farming community.

Responding to a question, Karjol said private companies are primarily driven by profit motives. He argued that if private firms are entrusted with maintaining power lines, farmers would have to bear the costs of repairing damaged infrastructure, such as burnt transmission lines or transformers, based on the rates demanded by the companies.

“Private companies work for profit. The government is already making farmers pay between Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 3 lakh for IP set connections and transformer installations. Tomorrow, private companies may demand Rs 4 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for the same services,” he said.

Karjol recalled that during the BJP government’s tenure, farmers could obtain IP set connections and transformer installations by paying Rs 25,000 and submitting an application, without facing major difficulties.

“However, in the last three years since the Congress government came to power in the state, farmers have been forced to pay between Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 3 lakh to electricity companies for IP set connections and transformer installations. This has caused significant hardship to the farming community,” he alleged.

Replying to another question regarding Dharmasthala, Karjol said the government was conducting an investigation through a Special Investigation Team (SIT). Describing Dharmasthala as a sacred and revered pilgrimage centre, he urged the government to resolve the issue at the earliest.

Meanwhile, former Karnataka minister B. Sriramulu has alleged that the Congress government, which came to power by making false promises regarding its guarantee schemes, is now attempting to discontinue the very same guarantees under the pretext of verification and revision.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Sriramulu said the people of Karnataka had never demanded such guarantee schemes from the government. “The Congress announced them on its own for political gain. Women did not ask for free bus travel, yet the government introduced it and is now moving to curtail or discontinue these guarantees,” he alleged.

Sriramulu claimed there were reports that Gruha Laxmi payments were being credited to the accounts of deceased beneficiaries, indicating serious flaws in the implementation of the scheme. “There is confusion within the government regarding the guarantees. There have been lapses at every level. The Congress leaders claimed these guarantees were for everyone, but now they are trying to stop them instead of implementing them properly. The government should apologise to the people of the state,” he said.

He alleged that the guarantees were introduced solely to win elections. “The Congress offered the guarantees during the elections and came to power. Now it is hatching a conspiracy to withdraw them. The government itself admitted on the floor of the House that irregularities had taken place in the Gruha Laxmi scheme,” he said.

Sriramulu also claimed that a cold war had existed between Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar over power and leadership. According to him, after Shivakumar became Chief Minister, infighting over cabinet positions and portfolios intensified.

He cited reports of dissatisfaction among ministers, alleging that Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda had raised objections over portfolio allocation. He also referred to senior Congress leader Ramalinga Reddy’s reported displeasure over his portfolio and said Minister K.H. Muniyappa was similarly unhappy.

“The government is surviving solely because of Rahul Gandhi. After D.K. Shivakumar became Chief Minister, nothing seems to be functioning properly, and the people of Karnataka are aware of it,” Sriramulu alleged.

He alleged that after D.K. Shivakumar became Chief Minister, he threw a half-eaten apple towards the crowd during the Samarpana Yatra held in Kanakapura, his home town. “By doing so, he conveyed the message that the people of the state should consume what is left after he has taken his share. This is the message he has sent to the people,” Sriramulu claimed.

–IANS

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