MYSURU: C.N. Manjunath, noted cardiologist, COVID warrior and Director of Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research here, on Saturday appealed to the Karnataka government to take steps to declare deceased Covid frontline workers as martyrs. Delivering his inaugural speech after launching the 10-day Dasara festivities here, he said the state government has taken the first step to recognise the health staff who are working hard to fight the dreaded virus by honouring them. "But I also want the state government to take initiative to declare deceased health staff as martyrs," he said. Cautioning the people not to attack doctors, Manjunath said that the doctors too are human beings and sometimes the success of treatment is not in their hands, as it depends on many factors. (IANS)