Mysore/Mysuru: Asserting that the District Administration is working overtime to control the spread of the second wave of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, MUDA Chairman H.V. Rajeev, who is also in-Charge of Bed Management in the district, has asked Opposition parties to come up with valuable suggestions instead of criticising the Government in this hour of crisis.

Addressing a press meet at MUDA Office here yesterday, Rajeev said that no one had anticipated the severity of COVID second wave. Pointing out that the Union Government had taken precautionary  measures, he accused the Congress and JD(S) of indulging in misleading the public instead of joining hands in the battle against the deadly virus.

Accusing the Congress of leading a misinformation campaign against Corona vaccine at the beginning, he said that now the Congress leaders are criticising the Government for shortage of  vaccine and dearth of beds, ICUs, ventilators and  oxygen.

Challenging the Opposition  leaders to start a 5-bed hospital in these trying times instead of taking on the Government, Rajeev wanted to know the measures and plans that the Opposition parties have for stemming the spread of the virus.

Dismissing Congress charges that bed-blocking scam had taken place in Mysuru too as utterly false, Rajeev maintained that BJP will be the first to launch a crackdown on bed blocking  mafia, if at all it existed.

D. Devaraj Urs Backward Classes Development Corporation Chairman Raghu Kautilya, who is in-Charge of War Room Management, said that Mysuru topped the list for highest number of vaccinations in the State.  Noting that the District Administration has set up COVID Mitra Centres, which is the first-of-its-kind in the State, he said that based on the overwhelming response, these centres have now been set up at Primary Health Centres too.

Maintaining that the DC and all other officials are working hard for checking the spread of virus, Raghu accused the Congress leaders of demoralising the officials through unwarranted and unnecessary comments. 

Stating that this is not the time to indulge in politics, he said that it is unfair to target  DC Rohini Sindhuri at a time when she is doing everything possible in this hour of crisis. Contending that the  DC is also a Kannadathi, who knows Kannada very well, Raghu said it is not right to criticise a top official in the name of caste, language or region.

Jungle Lodges and Resorts Chairman M. Appanna, who is Incharge of the conduct of last rites of COVID dead, said that it is not the time for political mudslinging. Noting that the entire globe is battling the deadly virus, he said that all political leaders  must disengage from targeting officials and the Government and instead should support the initiatives  taken for combating the deadly virus.

Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) Chairman L.R. Mahadevaswamy and others were present.

MUDA Chairman H.V. Rajeev yesterday launched the ambulance service being provided by ZAK Chairman L.R. Mahadevaswamy Fans Association. While the ambulance service is free of cost for families of vehicle drivers, who are more than 2,500 in number, the service is available to the rest upon payment of only fuel charges. For more details about the service, call Mob: 99003-45057 or 99001-18444.