Senior BJP leader R. Ashoka criticized the Congress government in Karnataka for the state Health Department’s alleged negligence and inefficiency despite changes in leadership. Ashoka highlighted that over 35,000 posts in the Health Department remain unfilled, urging immediate action to address this issue. He warned of a potential statewide protest by the Karnataka BJP if the demands for filling vacancies and releasing pending salaries are not met promptly.
Ashoka pointed out the challenges faced by government hospitals, emphasizing the lack of staff to attend to emergency cases at night and the scarcity of basic medicines like paracetamol. He also raised concerns about the neglect of the “Namma Clinic” initiative meant for providing healthcare to the underprivileged, noting that employees in these clinics have not been paid for three months. The BJP leader questioned the moral authority of a government that fails to pay its staff while depleting state funds on guarantee schemes.
In response to the situation, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara disclosed plans to fill 72,000 vacant government posts and appointed senior officers to oversee the recruitment process. He explained that delays in recruitment were due to internal reservation issues, which have now been resolved following a commission’s recommendations. The government aims to fulfill its election promise of gradually filling 1.50 lakh vacant positions.
