Night curfew likely to impose as Karnataka government chooses safer side

KEY STORY 

• Any relaxation of the night curfew in the immediate future is unlikely, ministers in Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s Cabinet say, as the government remains wary of a possible surge in Covid-19 case numbers after the festival season.

• Ministers say that the cautious government is unlikely to withdraw the night curfew, which some argue is unscientific, when the guidelines are reviewed again on September 13.

• Speaking to DH, Higher Education and IT/BT Minister C N Ashwath Narayan said that the Bommai government was monitoring the situation closely.

• “It’s still pandemic season and there are fears of a possible spike in cases in October,” he said.

• Narayan headed the Covid-19 task force in the previous government.

• The government has to be cautious and keep a watch on the emergence of any new Covid-19 variants that could cause problems.

• “We don’t want to relax regulations like night curfew as case numbers decline, and then face a spike,” Narayan said, adding that regulations were essential “to be on the safer side”.

• Housing Minister V Somanna said that any relaxation of Covid-19 guidelines will be done in stages.

• “Let Ganesh Chaturthi festival get over, after which the government can assess the situation and take a call,” he said.

• Somanna said that there has not been any discussion on withdrawing the night curfew.

• Urban Development Minister Byrathi Basavaraj echoed the same sentiment over the issue.

• “After the monsoon session, there could be some discussion about it,” he said, suggesting that the night curfew would stay till September 24, when the legislature session ends.

CONCLUSION 

• The night curfew, which starts daily at 9 pm and lasts till 5 am, has come under criticism for laxity in enforcement. While traffic is as usual, shops and establishments down shutters fearing harassment by the police.

• Last week, a section of ministers demanded withdrawal of the weekend curfew and other restrictions during a Cabinet meeting.