In an attempt to corner the Rajasthan Government over the death of seven children in a state-run rehabilitation home, the Congress Party on Sunday alleged that the entire incident took place due to 'criminal neglect' and saidChief Minister Vasundhara Raje-led dispensation cannot be allowed to 'shrug away from its responsibility' and put the entire blame on a 'lower level functionary'.
Speaking to ANI, Congress leader Sachin Pilot also demanded a special audit of all the state funded institutions in Rajasthan by the Centre.
"We demand that there must be special audit of entire state government funded institutions by a team send by the Government of India.It cannot be a lower level functionary or a doctor or maid who is suspended and government can then shrug away from its responsibility," Pilot said, adding that accountability must be fixed soon.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda today said that a special five-member expert team would be sent to assist the Rajasthan Government to investigate into the causes of water and food contamination that resulted in the deaths of 11 specially-abled persons at Jamdoli.
The five-member team will include a senior pediatrician, epidemiologist and microbiologist and will reach Jaipur today.
The team shall investigate into the causes that led to the incident and also suggest public health measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has issued instructions for strict action against all government officials responsible for the incident.
Raje, who held a high-level meeting on the issue with State Health Minister Rajendra Rathore, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Arun Chaturvedi and Chief Secretary C S Rajan said even senior officers, if found responsible, would not be spared.
Eleven people with special needs, who were staying at a government-run home in Rajasthan's Jamdoli were reported dead after allegedly drinking contaminated water.
Another three children were admitted in critical condition at a hospital in Jaipur.
Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognizance of media reports of death of children with special needs and has issued a notice to the state government.
