JOIN USKarnataka CM B S Yediyurappa convenes all-party meet on COVID-19
Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has convened an all-party meeting on Sunday even as Karnataka battles the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yediyurappa has invited leaders of the Congress and the JD(S) for a meeting in the Vidhana Soudha.
“As you are aware, the COVID-19 virus has spread to lakhs of people across the world and several lives have been lost. Even in Karnataka, we have seen COVID-19 cases and the government is taking all required steps to control it. Since the lockdown is in force, I have decided to discuss with leaders of all parties in the interest of the people of the state,” Yediyurappa stated in a letter inviting the Opposition.
The Opposition Congress has been critical of the way the government has handled the COVID-19 crisis. Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah, as well as Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar, had demanded that an all-party meeting be convened to discuss the situation.
Meanwhile, Yediyurappa has reached out to corporates, industry leaders and nonprofits seeking donations to help the government fight COVID-19. The government has tasked senior IAS officer Uma Mahadevan to liaise with potential donors.
In an appeal, Yediyurappa asked employees to contribute one day’s salary for COVID-19 containment and management through the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
India has reached Stage-3: DyCM
Speaking in Bagalkot, Deputy Chief Minister Govind Karjol said the COVID-19 transmission had reached stage-3 in India. Stage-3 refers to a scenario in which the source of the infection cannot be traced, or when a patient tests positive despite no exposure to an infected person or any travel history.
“People are cooperating with the lockdown, except for some miscreants. This is a disaster facing all of humanity. It’s a big country with 130 crore people. If this pandemic spreads further, it’ll be difficult to control it. It’s inevitable to take strict action against people who are not following lockdown protocols,” Karjol said.