‘Darkness Bhagya’ in Karnataka? Hospital denies BJP’s claim that it has plunged into darkness

The video shared by Karnataka BJP on its official handle on X (formerly Twitter) showed a doctor treating a patient, allegedly at the hospital in Molakalmuru taluk in Chitradurga district using the flashlight of a mobile phone and the medical store depending on the patient’s mobile phone’s flashlight to provide medicines.

Criticising the Congress government as it completes one year under the leadership of CM Siddaramaiah, the BJP said the government has reached such a dire situation that even hospitals are not supplied with electricity. As the Siddaramaiah government completes one year in office, the BJP called the power shortage a ‘gift’.

ಒಂದು ವರ್ಷದ ಗ್ಯಾರಂಟಿ ಕತ್ತಲು ಭಾಗ್ಯ ಇದು ವರ್ಷದ ಸಂಭ್ರಮಾಚರಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿರುವ @INCKarnataka ದ ಉಡುಗೊರೆ!@siddaramaiah ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಇಂದು ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆಗಳಿಗೂ ಕರೆಂಟ್ ಪೂರೈಸದಷ್ಟು ಹೀನಾಯ ಸ್ಥಿತಿಗೆ ಬಂದು ತಲುಪಿದೆ.

ಖಜಾನೆ ಖಾಲಿ, ವಿದ್ಯುತ್ ಖಾಲಿ !
ಇದು ಖಚಿತನೇ ಉಚಿತನೇ ನಿಶ್ಚಿತನೇ ಚಿಪ್ಪು ಚೊಂಬು!#CongressFailsKarnataka pic.twitter.com/GFzLXa3c8y

— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) May 21, 2024

“One year guarantee ‘Darkness Bhagya’. It’s a gift from the Congress government in Karnataka which is celebrating the completion of one year in the office! Congress government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reached such a dire situation that even hospitals are not supplied with electricity. The treasury is empty, and there is no electricity! This is a ‘Chombu’ (round water pot) and ‘Chippu’ (coconut shell) government,” the BJP said on ‘X’.

Congress had called the Central government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “Chombu” government, symbolising emptiness.

In retaliation, the BJP launched a drive calling the Siddaramaiah regime ‘Chippu’ government. Chippu depicts uselessness.

Also Read: Mixed bag as Siddaramaiah govt completes a year in Karnataka

Chitradurga official’s response 

Denying all allegations regarding service disruptions at Molakalmoor General Hospital, the Chitradurga District Health officer told SouthFirst that he visited the hospital on 20 May to investigate and found the claims are false.

Dr Ranganath clarified, “Due to recent rains, the generator was activated for a few seconds, causing a brief power disruption.”

However, he emphasised that no operations were stalled and no patients experienced discomfort during this time.

Also Read: ‘Scared and cried loudly’: Air India Express flight passengers recall harrowing moments after engine fire in Bengaluru

(Edited with PTI inputs by Neena)