Mangaluru South MLA Vedavyas Kamath has said that the Congress should stop misleading citizens at difficult times like the ones brought on by the coronavirus global pandemic. Kamath was speaking to the press in Mangaluru regarding the treatment of Covid-19 patients in the city’s Wenlock Hospital and how the Congress was undermining not only the effort of the state and district administration in controlling the pandemic, but also that of the hospitals and healthcare workers.
Expressing his rage towards the Opposition, Kamath said, “Congress should first put an end to making mockery out of matters of public health. In addition to giving false statements about Wenlock hospital, it is creating an environment wherein people are scared to arrive at Wenlock hospital.”
The MLA further said, “All facilities are available at Wenlock hospital for the underprivileged. But Congress is misleading citizens and instilling fear in their minds. This kind of politics does not bode well for a party like Congress.”
“Congress has not made any appreciable contribution to the development of Wenlock hospital in the past 50 years. Even when [Congress leader] UT Khader was the health minister, Wenlock did not get any benefit. So far there were only twelve ICUs. Now there are seventy ventilators due to the effort put in by MP Nalin Kumar and the BJP government. In addition, twenty ventilators are reserved in private hospitals for the poor. So ninety ventilators are available for the treatment of the poor. Oxygen cylinder capacity is increased to twelve tonnes from six tonnes. All these are reserved for poor people”, he said.
“In the next thirty to forty days, an oxygen plant will be installed. Within another ten days, fifty more ventilators will arrive. The blueprint is being prepared to install 250 oxygen beds. Work is in progress to install oxygen plants in all the taluk hospitals. Already fifty oxygen beds are being readied. When Khader was the health minister he did not make any contribution to his constituency. Congress does not want development. Congress is leaving aside development and is indulging in criticizing BJP”, Kamath added.
Kamath also lambasted statements from Congress leaders over the oxygen received from Bahrain. “The union government had sent an appeal to Bahrain to send oxygen in the wake of the worsening Covid situation in the country. Initially, due to some political issues, the Centre had decided to get oxygen through Red Cross. So the oxygen was to be sent to Mumbai port. But due to the appeal of the Karnataka government, it was sent to NMPT. This process has happened as per the agreement between the governments of both countries. Congress leaders who are criticizing this matter should first understand it. If the governor is numero uno for any state, DC and elected representatives are important for districts. What is wrong in welcoming the oxygen containers that were brought by the government? Congress politicizes every move of the ruling party. They should utilize their smartness for good work. There is no need to be dramatic during this difficult time”, he fumed.
Speaking on the subject of availability of Covid testing reports for patients, Vedavyas Kamath said, “As the people who used to arrive at Wenlock hospital for Covid test were not filling the details properly in their application form, uploading the same on the system was getting delayed. This issue will be resolved within a week. The Covid report will be available within 24 hours.”
Mayor Premananda Shetty, chief whip of the Mangaluru City Corporation Sudhir Shetty Kannur and BJP South Mandala president Vijaya Kumar Shetty were also present at the press briefing.
Click here to subscribe to The Commune on Telegram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.