Now, another minister expresses concern over health facilities
CRITICISM Vishvendra Singh takes on colleague minister over ‘upkeep of standards’ in Bharatpur govt hospital
JAIPUR: After deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, another minister of chief minister Ashok Gehlot’s cabinet has taken on the government over health facilities.
In a series of tweets, tourism minister Vishvendra Singh took on minister of state for health and MLA (Rashtriya Lok Dal) from Bharatpur, Subhash Garg for lack of facilities in a district hospital.
“I am astonished on seeing the photos of rats in the ICU and stray animals sitting on beds of Bharatpur’s government hospital. A ministerial colleague is the MLA (Garg) from the area and I thought all was under control. Anyhow, I have asked the chief medical and health officer of Bharatpur to meet me in Jaipur,” stated Singh in a series of tweets.
“I will be inspecting all hospitals in Bharatpur City over the coming weekend. In the meantime, I am have asked colleague
MLA Wajib Ali to visit the hospital and take account of the situation and give directions for upkeep of standards, hygiene and patient comfort,” he tweeted.
In another tweet, he states, “These hospitals were under me for several years when I was the Member of Parliament from Bharatpur. Sadly, they are now neglected by the local MLA (Garg). I love people of Bharatpur and will continue to serve them in whatever capacity I can.”
It is not the first time the two ministers of Gehlot government have engaged in a face-off after the Congress’s alliance with the RLD in Bharatpur for civic polls.
In October 2019, Garg during a RLD public meeting had said civic election will be contested with Congress. However, Singh during a public hearing had denied any such development and stated that election will be contested alone, without any alliance.
In an interview, Singh has stated that the condition of gov
VISHVENDRA SINGH, minister
I am astonished on seeing the photos of rats in the ICU ..of Bharatpur’s govt hospital. A ministerial colleague is the MLA (Garg) from the area and I thought all was under control
ernment hospitals in the state is similar to that in Bharatpur hospital. If the health department inspects all the hospitals, then reality will come to fore.
Commenting on the tweets of Singh, minister of technical education department (independent charge) Garg said, “It is good that all the colleagues are inspecting hospital and other offices. Our government is sincere and working for improvement and development.”
He said the chief minister has already directed all the ministers and officials to visit, inspect and identify shortcomings. “The MLAS and ministers should hold regular inspection, even of their respective areas for good governance,” he said.
Garg said the health system was neglected by previous government, which needs time to be improved.
Earlier, Pilot slammed the government over death of infants in
Kota’s JK Lon Hospital.
In a month, two ministers in Gehlot cabinet have put their own government in the dock over hospitals.
Political analyst Narayan Bareth said this seems to be a local power struggle between Singh and Garg.
The government hospitals in poor shape has not happened in last one year, but it was the last government which was encouraging privatisation and neglecting the health sector, and now this government too has not been successful to strengthen it.
BJP spokesperson Mukesh Pareek said the present state government has two power centres and the ministers too are divided. The blame game and counter attacks too are happening group wise.
“This clearly indicates that the government in Rajasthan is divided, and people are suffering because of it. In coming time, this will only increase and they have to pay for the same,” he said.