The Congress has a history of 130 years and those trying to free India from the party will not succeed in their efforts, said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah here on Saturday.
He was speaking to presspersons during his visit to Hassan to inaugurate the 27th State-level conference of the Karnataka Government Medical Officers’ Association.
“Congress has a long history. This is the party which got freedom to this country. BJP leaders, in the wake of the results of the recent elections, are speaking of eradicating Congress from this country. They will not succeed. Congress will come to power after the next Lok Sabha elections,” he said.
When asked if the Congress was worried about the fate of its government in Karnataka in the wake of BJP national president Amit Shah’s visit to the State, Mr. Siddaramaiah said, “He has come, he will go back. We are not worried about either Amit Shah or Narendra Modi, or the BJP”.
Bus fareOn the demand to reduce bus fares following the decrease in fuel prices, the Chief Minister said the State road transport corporations were not making profit. “The Finance Department has been reviewing possibilities of a fare revision,” he said.
On the names recommended for the Karnataka Public Service Commission posts, he said the names were recommended according to provisions in the law. “Even in the past, several people who were in active politics were appointed to the KPSC. No court has ruled against appointing politicians to the posts,” he said.
Rural serviceAfter inaugurating the conference, Mr. Siddaramaiah said government medical officers should hold a debate on non-availability of doctors for rural service and work towards encouraging fresh medical graduates to take up government service.He asked the conference organisers to discuss the issue in detail during the two-day event.
Calling upon doctors not to go on strike anytime again, he suggested that the association resolve issues through talks with the government.
“The State government is committed to implementing all the assurances given to the association in the meeting on October 29 last year. The assurances will come into effect through Government Orders. The process of issuing GOs has begun,” he said.
Health Minister U.T. Khader said the department was planning to set up generic drug outlets at taluk centres.
