Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi has said that the State government is closing down Jan Aushadi (generic medicine) centres on government hospital premises just because they have the portrait of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanded that the decision be rescinded immediately.
Speaking to presspersons in Hubbalil on Monday, Mr. Joshi said that while the Health Minister has claimed that free medicine are being given in government hospitals, medicine for even blood pressure and diabetes are not being made available.
“There are around 10,000 Jan Aushadi centres across the country and nowhere they are being closed except in Karnataka. We will fight against it,” he said.
The Union Minister said that minority appeasement has reached its pinnacle under the Congress rule in the State and the High Court has already rapped the State government on its knuckles for its decision to withdraw cases related to the Old Hubballi riots.
“While the State government has registered a case against Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat for hate speech, it has withdrawn cases against those who attacked a police station. This is a clear example of the Congress’ appeasement politics,” he said.
Mr. Joshi clarified that the BJP is not opposed to all Muslims. “We only oppose Muslim fundamentalists, communal elements among them and terrorists. However, the appeasement politics of the Congress is affecting the security of the country and also of the State. Under Congress rule, Karnataka has become a safe haven for Muslim fundamentalists,” he said.
Mr. Joshi said that while Pakistan has admitted to the fact that India destroyed its air bases in Operation Sindoor, the Congress leaders are asking for evidence. Despite India gaining a upperhand in the operation against terrorists, the Congress is not happy, he mocked.
The Union Minister termed AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge’s demand for a special parliamentary session to deliberate on Operation Sindoor as childish. “Just because a special session is being convened in Pakistan on the issue, Congress leaders should not speak like spokespersons of Pakistan. Shortly, a parliamentary session will be convened and all issues will be deliberated upon,” he said.
Replying to a query, the Union Minister said that the country has accepted the ideology of the RSS and the BJP, while rejecting the ideology of the Congress. Repeated attempts to launch Rahul Gandhi as a leader have failed and so has Rahul Gandhi, he said.
Terming actor Kamal Haasan’s statement on Kannada as wrong, Mr. Joshi said that Tamil, Telugu and Kannada are ancient languages and Kamal Haasan has spoken without any scientific basis and thereby created a rift. However, neither the Chief Minister nor the Deputy Chief Minister have condemned his remarks and Kannada activists should question Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar about it, he said.
Published – June 02, 2025 06:18 pm IST
