Sudhakar distances himself from Kateel's personal attack against Rahul Gandhi

Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar has refused to add fuel to the controversy over Karnataka BJP chief Nalinkumar Kateel's comments on Rahul Gandhi.

Kateel had made a personal attack against the former Congress president's 'single status'. "Rahul Gandhi is not getting married because he is impotent," ANI quoted the state BJP chief as saying at an event.

He added, "Gandhi and Siddaramaiah asked people not to take vaccines. Saying you won't have kids. But, in the night secretly they took.'' K Sudhakar told the mediapersons in Bengaluru, "I don't know in what context our president has made that remark but I'd like to keep myself away from this comment and I don't want to support this comment."

While talking about rising COVID-19 cases in Karnataka, Sudhakar said, "We've also advised children, people above 65 years of age who have comorbidities and pregnant women to take preventive measures and avoid the unnecessary crowd and undertake hygiene protocols." He added, "It's not alarming as such, still, we thought we should meet with the expert committee and take stock of the situation...We have decided to mandate all health staff to wear masks while they are working in the facilities."

He further added, "We have also discussed the heatwave and increase in temperature. We want to avoid heatstroke. We have issued an advisory that people should stay hydrated by consuming at least 2-3 litres of water daily and add buttermilk, tender coconut, and lemon juice to their diet."

Meanwhile, the Karnataka Congress has called the bandh to escalate the issue and further embarrass the BJP following the recovery of over Rs eight crore unaccounted cash from its MLA Madal Virupakshappa's son Prashanth Madal by the Lokayukta, in an alleged bribery case. Announcing the bandh from 9 to 11 am on Thursday, Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar on Sunday said, schools, colleges, transport and health services will not be disturbed.