Bed allotment scam: BJP MP and legislators draw flak for communalising COVID-19

Of the 204 staff manning the war room, they read out 17 names, all members of a minority community

Member of Parliament from Bengaluru South Tejasvi Surya and the three BJP MLAs who carried out an expose of alleged bed-blocking by staff in the South Zone War Room, which they live-streamed on social media on Tuesday, have received flak for communalising the issue. Of the 204 staff manning the war room, Mr. Surya read out 17 names, all members of a minority community. He questioned their recruitment and their role, following which all 17 were fired. MLAs Ravi Subramanya and Satish Reddy had also made communally loaded statements. Senior Minister K.S. Eshwarappa on Wednesday expressed suspicion that minority organisations may be behind bed-blocking in the city. Many citizens took to social media to criticise Mr. Surya for communalising the issue. Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah said BJP leaders were unfairly trying to pin the blame on a community for the bed-blocking scam. “The communal virus in your brain is more dangerous than coronavirus, better get tested,” he tweeted.