Bengaluru, Jan 10 : While KPCC Chief and Congress leader DK Shivakumar has been denying the increase in Covid cases in the state, some prominent political leaders have been falling prey to deadly virus.

Latest in the list of politicians testing positive for Covid is Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. He confirmed this on his Twitter handle saying that he has been tested positive for Covid with mild symptoms and is under home quarantine.

He also requested those who recently came in his contact to isolate themselves and get tested. Earlier today, Karnataka BJP President Nalin Kumar Kateel also tested Covid positive, which he made public on his official Twitter handle.

On January 7 and January 1, Revenue Minister R Ashoka and Education Minister BC Nagesh had tested positive for Covid, but with mild symptoms.

Meanwhile, Shivakumar has been denying the spurt of Covid cases in the state by saying that no one has been admitted to ICUs. On January 6, he made a shocking remark that there is no Covid in the state and that the numbers are being fudged by the BJP government deliberately.

He did not stop here, the Congress leader, late yesterday evening, created a ruckus when he refused to undergo a Blood/Covid test after a video of his faltering steps during the first day of the padayatra had gone viral.

In yet another video, Shivakumar is seen without a mask talking arrogantly to the Additional Deputy Commissioner T Javare Gowda and District Health Official Niranjan, who had come to conduct a Blood/Covid test at his resting place.

Arguing with the officials, Shivakumar is seen saying that he would not undergo Blood/Covid test as it was a “bloody fellows (officials and ministers)” ploy to blackmail him to call off the padayatra.

“I am pleased you came to inquire about my health, but I did not expect the Chief Minister to send the team (officials) to conduct (Blood/Covid) test. Nobody can touch me. I will not undergo any tests … I am fit, fine,” he said.

For this misconduct, the Ramanagara district administration has lodged FIR against Congress leaders including Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah and Mallikarjun Kharge, for flouting Covid norms, including taking out protest rallies and padayatra for checking the spread of Covid in Karnataka.

On Monday too, Shivakumar was defiant in following the Covid norms. He was not wearing the mask when health officials enquired about his health. Besides him, his brother and Ramanagara MP DK Suresh, Working President Saleem Ahmed, and other Congress leaders were seen not wearing the masks.

While Shivakumar has been adamant on the padayatra, his bete noire Siddaramaiah returned to Bengaluru after complaining of fever due to the Booster jab he took days ahead of the padayatra.

Meanwhile, Karnataka today reported 146 new cases of Omicron, taking the overall tally of the new Covid variant in Karnataka to 479.

This was confirmed by Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar in a tweet posted today. He said the positivity rate of the state has gone up to 7.77 percent in the state today, he said.

As many as 11,698 new Covid cases have been registered today, out of which 9,221 cases are registered in Bengaluru alone, Dr Sudhakar said.

While 1,148 Covid infected people have been discharged, active cases in the state stand at 60,148, he said.

However, there are just four deaths reported, out of which two were recorded in Bengaluru, Dr Sudhakar added.

He also said that the state government has administered 50 percent first dose vaccination for children in the age group of 15-17 years.

“15.60 lakh of the 31.75 lakh children in this age group are administered with the first dose to date in the state,” the minister added.

Earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai inaugurated the Covid vaccination drive to provide precaution dose for healthcare workers, frontline warriors and senior citizens with co-morbidities.

“The precaution dose will boost immunity and ensure better resistance against viruses for vulnerable groups,” he said.(UNI)