Mysore/Mysuru: Terming the BJP Government as a factory of lies, former K.R. MLA M.K. Somashekar alleged that the Union and State Governments were under-reporting COVID deaths and the Mysuru District Administration was no different.

Addressing a press meet at Congress Bhavan near the City Railway Station here yesterday, Somashekar charged the BJP Government of hiding the actual number of COVID deaths. 

Accusing Prime Minister Modi and the State BJP Government of misleading people by under-reporting COVID deaths, the former Congress MLA claimed that Mysuru District Administration had showed the number of deaths on May 27 only as 18 when the actual number was 34. Likewise, only 20 deaths were reported on May 28 when the actual number of deaths was 33, he said. 

Wondering what would the actual figures be in the State Capital Bengaluru which reports the highest COVID casualties in the State every day, Somashekar contended that there is gross dissimilarities in COVID death figures in Gujarat too, where the BJP Government is in power for decades.

Continuing his charge against the Government, the former MLA maintained that the Government was misleading the people on COVID positivity rate too. Accusing the BJP of coming up with a false narrative that positivity rate was coming down, he said that the Government has reduced testing and was shutting down testing centres gradually. 

Referring to vaccination drive, Somashekar said that the drive was a publicity stunt as people are waiting for days to receive jabs. 

Arguing that the Government was miserably short of vaccines, he alleged that the Government, by failing to vaccinate people for free, was forcing them to go to private hospitals for the jab, which is available for a high price.

City Congress Vice-President Rajaram, Corporator J. Gopi, leaders M. Sunil, Girish, Niral Shah, Gunashekar and others were present.