Shivamogga: In a bizarre incident,an elderly woman had to drag her ill husband along the floorto get his scanning done as she was allegedly not provided with a wheelchair at a government run-hospital here.

The video of the incident, where Amir Saab, aged about 75, is seen being dragged by his foot along the floor by his wife Fameeda, has sparked outrage with the government ordering an inquiry into it.

The incident occurred on May 31 afternoon, at the state government run McGann Hospital here.

According to the patient, his wife was not provided the wheel chair by hospital authorities, despite repeated requests.

“We were fed up after repeatedly asking for a wheelchair. No one gave it. So my wife dragged me outside. By thensomeone came. They raised their voice against hospital authoritiesand got us the wheelchair,” Amir Saab toldreporters.

He said he has got back pain after being dragged along the floor and also complained that doctors were not visiting “properly”.

Health department officials said Amir Saab was admitted on May 25 due to some lung problem, breathing issues and swelling in the body. The physician after conducting tests, had advised an abdomen scan on May 30, they said.

The “unfortunate” incident should not have occurred as there were adequate number of wheelchairs, the hospital officials said, adding, an inquiry would be held regarding the lapses.

Minister for Medical Education Sharan Prakash Patil, under whose department the hospital comes, has ordered aninquiry.

Stating that he was “surprised” by the incident, Patil said he would ask for the report and take action against those responsible.

Health Minister Ramesh Kumar said officials toldhim the patient’s family was “impatient” to wait for thewheelchair.

“But I told officials that such incidentsshould not have happened at a government hospital. So conduct aninquiry and submit a report, so that action can be takenagainst those responsible,” he said.

Kumar while apologising to the public for the incident, also appealed to them not to loose faith in government hospitals because of such stray incidents.

(Agencies)

New Delhi: Members of a “cow vigilante” group allegedly barged into the Kerala House here Thursday to protest against the beef festivals organised recently in the south Indian state. 

‘Beef fests’ were held in various parts of Kerala to protest against the Centre’s decision banning sale and purchase of cattle at animal markets for slaughter, while some Youth Congress activists butchered a calf in full public view in the state where beef is widely consumed.

Police said around 12 to 14 people, claiming they belonged to ‘Bharathiya Gauraksha Kranti’, entered the Kerala House around 8 PM and started distributing cow milk.

Eyewitnesses claimed that the protesters blocked the main entrance of the Kerala House and also threatened the police who asked them if they had any permission to organise the protest.

They reportedly said they “do not need any permission” as they were working according to the “dharma”.

The police, however, maintained that it was a peaceful protest.

Kerala House Resident Commissioner Vishwas Mehta denied knowledge of any such incident. He said no such incident or protest had taken place until 6.30 PM.

Mehta also said he had already informed police authorities concerned about the chances of such protests in front of the House.

(PTI)

Bengaluru: A Bengaluru based lawyer has filed a private complaint at the 24th ACMM court in the city registering his objection against covering the dead body of renowned cine producer, wife of late Kannada actor Dr Rajkumar, Parvathamma Rajkumar by Indian national flag prior to her last rites.

Vijayanagar base lawyer Chethan stated in his complaint that, the use of national flag violates Rule 5 under the Rules of National Flag. The lawyer has also submitted his complaint to Bengaluru City Police Commissioner, Chief Secretary of Karnataka state and Home Secretary.

National flag was used during the procession of the dead body held before the funeral ceremony on Wednesday. The complainant has also stated that he doesn’t has any objection against state honor given to Parvathamma during her last rites.

(Agencies)

Washington: Coming down heavily on Indian and China, US President Donald Trump has pulled United States on Thursday out of the Paris Accord, a landmark international agreement struck to cut greenhouse gases. The President sited that the Paris climate agreement gave undue advantage to India and China at the cost of the Unite States’ interests.

“China will be allowed to build hundreds of additional coal plants. So we can’t build the plants, but they can, according to this agreement. India will be allowed to double its coal production by 2020. Think of it: India can double their coal production. We’re supposed to get rid of ours,” the President said, adding that the agreement “is less about the climate and more about other countries gaining a financial advantage over the U.S.”

According to Mr. Trump, the Paris agreement would lead to a redistribution of American wealth to other countries and transfer of American jobs abroad. His predecessor Barack Obama had argued that by promoting a global climate regime, the U.S would create wealth and jobs at home. He had showcased the Indian and Chinese endorsement of the Paris accord as a key diplomatic success of his presidency.

Turning that argument on its head, Mr. Trump said the agreement was “very unfair, at the highest level, to the United States.” “For example, under the agreement, China will be able to increase these emissions by a staggering number of years — 13. They can do whatever they want for 13 years. Not us. India makes its participation contingent on receiving billions and billions and billions of dollars in foreign aid from developed countries,” Mr. Trump said.

Reiterating his campaign theme that America is being taken for a ride by all its partners, friends and foes, Mr. Trump said he would turn that around. “At what point does America get demeaned? At what point do they start laughing at us as a country?   We want fair treatment for its citizens, and we want fair treatment for our taxpayers. We don’t want other leaders and other countries laughing at us anymore. And they won’t be. They won’t be,” he said.

The announcement concluded intense internal debate in the Trump administration and ignoring protests from American closest allies in Europe and Canada. Anticipating American withdrawal, European leaders who met the President at the G-7 summit recently had urged him to reconsider his move. Other than China and India, Mr. Trump picked on European leaders also for pointed criticism. “Foreign leaders in Europe, Asia, and across the world should not have more to say with respect to the U.S. economy than our own citizens and their elected representatives,” he said, adding, “I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris.”

“Thus, as of today, the United States will cease all implementation of the non-binding Paris Accord and the draconian financial and economic burdens the agreement imposes on our country,” the President said. Carbon reduction targets that American set under Paris commitment aimed to reduce emissions by 26-28% in a decade. America has stopped contributing to the Green Climate Fund set up under the Paris agreement to support developing countries meet their commitment. The Obama administration had committed $ 3 billion to the fund of which $1 billion has been transferred.

Mr. Obama condemned the decision. “It was steady, principled American leadership on the world stage that made that achievement possible,” he said of the Paris agreement. “.… And what made that leadership and ambition possible was America’s private innovation and public investment in growing industries like wind and solar — industries that created some of the fastest new streams of good-paying jobs in recent years, and contributed to the longest streak of job creation in our history,” the former President said.

“The nations that remain in the Paris Agreement will be the nations that reap the benefits in jobs and industries created,” Mr. Obama said, adding: “I believe the United States of America should be at the front of the pack. But even in the absence of American leadership; even as this Administration joins a small handful of nations that reject the future; I’m confident that our states, cities, and businesses will step up and do even more to lead the way, and help protect for future generations the one planet we’ve got.”

(Agencies)