Karnataka CM firm on New Year celebration curbs
Bommai rules out reconsidering fresh Covid-19 guidelines following demand from Karnataka hospitality industry to remove 50% cap on year-end gatherings
MYSURU/BENGALURU:
Not budging to ‘pressure’ from the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry as well as hotel and pub owners to relax the state government’s year-end restrictions on New Year gatherings, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has turned down all such requests.
”There is no question of reconsideration. Last week, when we held a meeting in Belagavi and imposed certain restrictions, I said that after observing the Omicron and Covid-19 situation, we may take certain measures, and accordingly we have imposed some minor restrictions,” Bommai said in response to a question in Mysuru on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters, he conceded that the statewide night curfew may cause some amount of inconvenience. ”But as we have already announced restrictions on parties outdoors, especially celebrations with DJs and large gatherings, it may not cause much trouble,” he added.
The Karnataka government on Sunday decided to impose a statewide night curfew for 10 days from December 28 between 10 pm and 5 am.
Also Read: COVID-19: Night curfew in Karnataka for 10 days from December 28
The government has banned all New Year parties and gatherings in public places; while places like eateries, hotels, pubs, clubs, and restaurants have been asked to operate with 50 per cent of their seating capacity from December 30 to January 2.
Responding to a question on the Omicron situation, Bommai said, ”I have held a meeting in this regard. As of now, the number is not big, but keeping in mind the increase in cases in our neighboring states and other countries, we have taken certain precautionary measures like night curfew and restrictions on New Year celebrations or gatherings in public places.”
Industry sore on 50% cap
Owners of hotels and pubs have requested the government to reconsider its decision, citing New Year celebrations as a major revenue spinner. President of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry IS Prasad said the 50 per cent capacity cap would affect the hotel and hospitality industry.
He requested the Chief Minister to allow the hotel and hospitality industry to function with full capacity by strictly following Covid protocols, as the industry has suffered a huge loss during the last two years.
Siddaramaiah ‘goes along’
Meanwhile, Congress leader Siddaramaiah said the opposition has no objection to the government taking precautionary measures in the wake of an increase in Covid and Omicron variant-related cases, so as to maintain law and order.
ಇದನ್ನೂ ಓದಿ: ಕೋವಿಡ್-19: ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಡಿಸೆಂಬರ್ 28 ರಿಂದ 10 ದಿನಗಳವರೆಗೆ ರಾತ್ರಿ ಕರ್ಫ್ಯೂ
Also Read: Karnataka gears to vaccinate 43 lakh children in 15-18 age group
ಇದನ್ನೂ ಓದಿ: 10 ದಿನ ರಾತ್ರಿ ಕರ್ಫ್ಯೂ, ನಿರ್ಬಂಧಗಳ ಸಡಿಲಿಕೆ ಇಲ್ಲ: ಸಿಎಂ ಬಸವರಾಜ ಬೊಮ್ಮಾಯಿ
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