Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar, addressed the media on Friday to provide an update on the health of his personal secretary, Rajendra Prasad, who was involved in a serious road accident near Savadatti. Shivakumar sought to allay concerns, stating there was no major cause for worry regarding his aide's condition.
Details of the Savadatti Road Accident
The unfortunate incident occurred late on Thursday night near Savadatti. A car belonging to Rajendra Prasad, who is also a senior Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) officer, collided with a motorcycle. While Prasad sustained minor injuries, primarily neck pain, the motorcyclist suffered grave injuries and later succumbed at a hospital.
The car driver also reported experiencing chest pain following the collision. Preliminary reports suggest that while returning from a temple, Prasad's vehicle encountered another vehicle on the road, leading to the accident. The Savadatti police have registered a case, and investigations into the exact cause are currently ongoing.
Shivakumar's Statement on Health and Compensation
Speaking to reporters, Shivakumar shared that doctors had examined his secretary and advised him to take a day or two of rest for his neck pain. "There is no serious problem. Goddess Yellamma has protected him," the Deputy CM remarked, expressing relief.
His tone turned somber when discussing the death of the young biker. Shivakumar expressed profound sorrow over the loss and labeled the incident as "extremely unfortunate." He announced that he would direct concerned ministers to visit the bereaved family to offer condolences and support. "Appropriate compensation will be provided to the deceased's family," he assured the public.
Clash with BJP Over Corruption Allegations
During the same media interaction, Shivakumar also responded forcefully to recent accusations made by BJP's state president, BY Vijayendra. Vijayendra had reportedly called Shivakumar the 'grandfather of corruption' and alleged that the Congress functioned as an 'ATM for the high command.'
Dismissing these claims, Shivakumar challenged the BJP leader to substantiate his allegations. "On what basis has he made these claims? Are we bankrupting the government and sending money to the high command?" he questioned. He concluded by saying that while he had already responded to such charges, time itself would provide the ultimate answer to the remaining insinuations.
