Karnataka: Khader accuses state govt of using Epidemic Diseases Act selectively

MANGALURU: Decrying attempt by state government to scuttle oath taking ceremony of KPCC president designate D K Shivakumar by misusing the Epidemic Diseases Act, former minister and Congress leader U T Khader said the oath taking ceremony will be a grand affair. Congress will not be browbeaten by such tactics of the ruling BJP dispensation in Karnataka and this has only further strengthened resolve of the party to rally round Shivakumar, he said.
Citing the blatant violation of all norms laid down under the Act by minister for health B R Sriramulu at Chitradurga earlier this month, Khader told reporters that the BJP is using the Act for its narrow political gains. “KPCC has twice deferred swearing in ceremony of Shivakumar after being given the oral go ahead,” Khader claimed, adding the state government must explain to people the issue it has with the Congress organising this function.
Referring to the back-to-back virtual political rallies – one for Bihar and the other for Odisha – on Sunday and Monday that union home minister Amit Shah conducted, Khader wondered if the Act did not apply to the BJP leadership. The emergence of Shivakumar as leader of the Congress in Karnataka and his effective questioning of government’s handling of the Covid19 situation has clearly rattled the BJP forcing it to make such decisions, he said.
Earlier in the day, inclement weather forced Shivakumar to cancel his scheduled visit to this coastal city. Khader said the helicopter ferrying Shivakumar returned after reaching Hassan due to heavy rains that reduced visibility. He was pencilled to visit senior Congress leaders Oscar Fernandes and B Janardhan Poojary, visit Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala and seek blessings of dharmadhikari D Veerendra Heggade before returning to Bengaluru.