Yediyurappa tells MLAs to rein in lockdown violators

Bengaluru, April 4 (IANS) Annoyed over reports that many people were still coming out of homes and roaming around the city on vehicles, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa told the 27 Bengaluru legislators and 3 Lok Sabha members to rein in the lockdown violators and ensure strict compliance of the acurfew.

“I have directed the city MLAs and MPs to enforce the Covid-19 lockdown strictly in their assembly segments and parliamentary seats across the city for breaking the chain of the coronavirus and prevent its community transmission,” Yediyurappa said in a statement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared on March 24 the 21-day lockdown from March 25 to April 14 and urged the people to stay home and maintain social or physical distancing across the country.

Though the tech city was already shutdown since March 14 to March 31 for containing the rare virus, the sudden lockdown and suspension of buses, trains and flights from March 25 forced most of the people stay at home and maintain social distancing.

“I also asked the legislators to take police help in detaining the violators and seizing their vehicles to ensure total lockdown by everyone except those on public duty,” he asserted.

Legislators and parliament members of the ruling BJP, including its ministers from across the city, opposition Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) participated in the hour-long meeting at the state secretariat in the city centre.

“Under the PM Kisan scheme, Rs 2,000 will be deposited by April 10 and under Ujwala scheme, the subsidy amount is being transferred into bank accounts of 15-lakh beneficiaries,” said Yediyurappa.

When the legislators complained to the Chief Minister that many non-ration card holders were not getting essential needs, he said arrangements were made to supply foodgrains to them though most of them were outside the southern state.

“Measures have been taken to channelise supply of all essentials through the public distribution system (PIDS) at fair all price shops to avoid crowding and maintain social distancing,” he asserted.

The state government is also distributing half-litre milk free to the people living in slum areas across the city.

–IANS

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