Cong dharna against crib deaths concludes

The three-day dharna by Congress in protest against the death of "164 children" in 4 months in state-run M G M Hospital here was concluded today.

The party demanded a judicial enquiry into the crib deaths and filed a police complaint against Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghuvar Das and others.

A senior official of East Singhbhum district had admitted that at least 144 infants died at the hospital between June and August 27 and a departmental probe has already been initiated.

Addressing the agitators, senior Congress leader Subodh Kant Sahay lambasted the chief minister and Health Minister Ramchandra Chandravasni, for not visiting the hospital after the crib deaths were reported.
 

Alleging that 133 children also died in Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences of Ranchi in last one month, he wondered if those were hospitals or slaughter houses.

Describing the chief minister himself as 'dengue', Sahay demanded his immediate resignation.

"We can handle the dengue mosquitoes and save lives of people but it is difficult to tackle the arrogant Das-dengue," the former union minister said adding that this could be tackled only when he would be ousted from power.

While claiming that 27 per cent of state's population were affected by malnutrition, Sahay alleged that the state government has stopped UPA government's health card scheme for BPL families.

BPL families would get treatment to the limit of Rs 30,000 with the health card but the scheme was stalled since the BJP government came to power, Sahay alleged.

He also claimed that commission system was the major cause behind the deaths of children, lack of medicine and oxygen in hospitals.

AICC spokesman Ajoy Kumar said Congress has started gathering the details of death of children from all hospitals of the state and file a PIL in Jharkhand High Court soon.

On Monday, Kumar had lodged a police complaint against Das, Chandravasni, and others, over the death of children in M G M Hospital.