Congress today intensified its protest over the death of 62 infants in 15 days at Sishu Bhavan, the premier child health care institution in Cuttack, and demanded dismissal of Health and Family Welfare Minister Atanu S Nayak.
Hundreds of Congress women's wing activists led by its president Sasmita Behera sought to gherao the chief minister's residence while condemning the government's alleged lack of concern over the death of children at Sishu Bhavan.
"We hold Health Minister Atanu S Nayak responsible for the death of the infants. The chief minister must dismiss such a minister who failed to protect their lives," Behera said.
The agitators, who were accompanied by state Congress president Prasad Harichandan and AICC secretary Subhankar Sarkar, were stopped at Sishu Bhavan Chhak here, following which several leaders courted arrest.
They criticised Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for not visiting the hospital even after death of 62 infants in a span of 15 days.
Meanwhile, BJP state in-charge Arun Singh criticised the BJD government for the infant deaths. He also flayed the government's decision to send back a team of doctors provided by the central government.
Claiming that the healthcare system has collapsed in the state, Singh said, "The state government should be sensitive towards the soaring infant deaths.
BJD spokesperson Samir Dash said, "The Centre must provide financial shares and funds for new medical colleges. It's not kindness that the Centre is showing by sending a team of doctors to Shishu Bhawan. It is part of the Centre's duty under federal structure."
When asked about the Congress' agitation, Dash said, "Congress is going through identity crisis. So it is like a routine process for them to save that identity.
