After hijab and halal, BJP created Eidgah issue to divert people’s attention from its scams: DKS

News Network

September 1, 2022

Bengaluru, Sept 1: The Congress has accused the BJP of deflecting attention from multiple corruption scandals in Karnataka ahead of the next year's elections, with focus on communal issues like the row over hijab, halal meat and the lately, the Ganesh Chaturthi celebration on Eidgah land.

In an interview, the party's state unit chief DK Shivakumar said, "Karnataka has become the corruption capital of the country. In order to cover that, they are coming up with hijab, halal, the Eidgah issue and all these".

Over the last year, the state has witnessed multiple divisive rows starting with the ban on hijab in educational institutions. Yesterday, a government order allowing Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at Bengaluru's Eidgah Maidan was bypassed by the Supreme Court. But celebrations were allowed by the High Court on Eidgah land in Hubballi.

Targetting the state's BJP government led by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Mr Shivakumar pointed out that two registered organisations have written to Prime Minster Narendra Modi, flagging these issues.

"The contractors' association has openly written to the Prime Minister about the corruption allegations. Why they wrote? The Prime Minister had said, 'I won't eat nor allow anyone to eat'. The association asked the PM what is happening in Karnataka?" he said.

This was the second time the contractors' association has written to the Prime Minister.

The state's contractors have repeatedly alleged paying bribes of up to 40 per cent of the value of a project to government officials to secure contracts.

In their letter, the contractors have questioned which way the state is heading, claiming that during the Congress regime, they had to pay only 10 per cent, he said.

The Education department, Mr Shivakumar added, has sent a similar missive.

Two schools associations have written to PM Modi claiming they are pressured to bribe government officials for a host of clearances --- renewal certificates to fire and safety clearances and building norms.

They have also claimed corruption linked to the mandatory admission of students from economically weaker sections, who are allowed to study free of cost. The schools are to receive government reimbursement for this. But here too, officials have to be bribed to release funds, the associations have claimed.

The state government has denied the allegations.

Mr Shivakumar said he was "ashamed" that this was happening in a state like Karnataka, where "highly educated, progressive people live".

There has been a buzz for weeks about a leadership change in the state. But state BJP leaders have vociferously denied it, claiming that Mr Bommai will lead the party to elections.

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No cases yet, but vigilance high: Karnataka braces for Nipah threat

News Network

February 3,2026

Bengaluru: Following reports of fresh Nipah virus (NiV) cases in West Bengal and heightened vigilance across parts of Southeast Asia, the Karnataka Health Department has placed the state on high alert and activated emergency preparedness protocols.

Health officials said enhanced surveillance measures have been initiated after two healthcare workers in Barasat, West Bengal, tested positive for the virus earlier this month. While no cases have been reported in Karnataka so far, authorities said the state’s past exposure to Nipah outbreaks and high inter-state mobility warranted preventive action.

Officials have directed district health teams to intensify monitoring, particularly at hospitals and points of entry, and to ensure early detection and isolation of suspected cases.

High Mortality Virus with Multiple Transmission Routes

Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease that can spread from animals to humans and has a reported fatality rate ranging between 60 and 75 per cent. Fruit bats, also known as flying foxes, are the natural reservoirs of the virus and can transmit it by contaminating food sources with saliva or urine.

Known modes of transmission include:

•   Contaminated food: Consumption of fruits partially eaten by bats or raw date-palm sap
•   Animal contact: Exposure to infected pigs or other animals
•   Human-to-human transmission: Close contact with body fluids of infected persons, particularly in healthcare settings

Symptoms and Disease Progression

The incubation period typically ranges from 4 to 14 days, though delayed onset has also been reported. Early symptoms often resemble common viral infections, making prompt clinical suspicion critical.

•   Initial symptoms: Fever, headache, body aches, fatigue, sore throat
•   Progressive symptoms: Drowsiness, disorientation, altered mental state
•   Severe stage: Seizures, neck stiffness and acute encephalitis, which can rapidly progress to coma

Public Health Advisory

The Health Department has issued precautionary guidelines urging the public to adopt risk-avoidance practices to prevent any local spillover.

Do’s
•   Wash fruits thoroughly before consumption
•   Drink boiled and cooled water
•   Use protective equipment while handling livestock
•   Maintain strict hand hygiene

Don’ts
•   Avoid fruits found on the ground or showing bite marks
•   Do not consume beverages made from raw tree sap, including toddy
•   Avoid areas with dense bat populations
•   Do not handle sick or dead animals

Preparedness Measures

Officials confirmed that isolation wards are being readied in major government hospitals and that medical staff are being sensitised to identify early warning signs.

“There is no cause for panic, but there is a need for heightened vigilance,” a senior health official said, adding that there is currently no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for Nipah, and care remains largely supportive.

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