After dope test, AAP lawmaker asks Punjab CM to follow suit
Chandigarh, July 5: Setting a precedent, Punjab's AAP MLA Aman Arora on Thursday underwent a dope test and dared Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to lead by example and get such a test done on himself, his Cabinet members and ruling Congress MLAs.
"The Aam Aadmi Party will support any progressive steps by the state to curb drugs problem in Punjab. But it would have been better if the Chief Minister had started the dope test with himself, his Ministers and (Congress) legislators," Arora told the media after undergoing a dope test at the Civil Hospital in Mohali, 10 km from here.
The Sunam MLA's action comes a day after Amarinder Singh ordered mandatory dope tests for all government employees, including police, from the time of their recruitment through every stage of their service.
"It is a matter of shame that elected representatives have to undergo ethical challenges like dope testing just because there is a big-time nexus between politicians and police officers with the drugs mafia... I appeal to everyone -- from panchayat members to the Chief Minister -- to undergo the dope test," Arora added.
"When he had to seek votes (for the Congress), Amarinder Singh held a 'Gutka Sahib' in his hand and took a pledge to wipe out drugs and drug mafia from Punjab within four weeks of coming to power. But even after over one year, nothing has been done by his government to curb the drug rackets," the AAP legislator said.
He said that the drugs problem will not be curbed till the Congress government showed the commitment to deal with politicians and police officials involved with the mafia behind these activities.
Punjab AAP Co-President Balbir Singh also asked the Chief Minister, and Shiromani Akali Dal chief and former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to take the lead and get their dope tests done.
Congress leader Manish Tewari welcomed the move.
"Dope tests on government servants for recruitment/promotions as proposed by the Punjab government is a welcome step. Must be made mandatory for all MLAs and MPs from the state," Tewari, a former Union Minister, tweeted.
"It would not only set an example but also remove any unreasonable classification between two classes of public servants."
Punjab is facing the brunt of rampant drugs abuse, especially among the youth and rural population.
The Punjab opposition is questioning the Congress government for not doing enough to eradicate the drug menace from the state.
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B'luru: "Least priority, shifted late," says brother of patient who died in Ramaiah hospital fire
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Bengaluru: Hours after a fire broke out at the Critical Care Unit (CCU) of the MS Ramaiah Memorial Hospital on New BEL Road on Thursday, a 34-year-old patient, Sujay Sujathan Panicker, tragically passed away. His family has accused the hospital authorities of negligence, which they claim led to his death.
The fire at Ramaiah Memorial Hospital is believed to have been caused by a short circuit. Initial reports suggested that there were no casualties in the incident.
Sujay, originally from Kollam in Kerala, had been residing in Bengaluru with his family since 2004. He was undergoing treatment for pneumonia, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), and H1N1 since September 1 at the hospital.
Sujay's wife and father released a video accusing the hospital of negligence. In the video, his wife, Rohini Jayan, alleged that the hospital authorities took no action against those responsible for the fire.
Sujay’s brother, Sujin Sujathan Panicker, speaking to Vartha Bharathi, detailed the family’s ordeal. He said that despite his sister-in-law requesting assistance during the chaos, the hospital staff pushed her away, assuring her that all patients had been safely evacuated to the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU). However, Sujin claims that his sister-in-law did not see Sujay being shifted.
He further stated, “Sometime later, when a doctor arrived, she (Rohini) inquired about Sujay. It was only after the doctor questioned the staff that they rushed to evacuate him.”
Sujin added that by the time his brother was evacuated, 50 minutes had already passed since the fire broke out. "He was still inside, while all the other patients were taken out first. He was admitted to the hospital with a respiratory illness, yet he was given the least priority during the chaos. He was the last one to be evacuated."
He also claimed that Rohini had already noticed that Sujay’s condition had deteriorated and believed he had passed away, though the hospital authorities did not officially declare his death.
Sujin further stated that the hospital authorities called him and his father to the board room at the 8th floor of the hospital, where senior executives and doctors who had treated Sujay were present “During the interaction they (hospital authorities) claimed that Sujay was still alive and that his condition had worsened amid the smoke and that his chances of survival were less, which was not true.”
"Despite staff being present to evacuate my brother, they remained negligent. The fire broke out at 1:00 p.m., so why did it take 50 minutes to get him out? He was in a corner bed in the CCU, and it seemed they either overlooked the room or ignored it. Even after repeated requests, it took them 50 minutes to evacuate him," Sujin added.
Sujin also expressed concerns that the hospital authorities might attempt to influence the investigation. "They can influence anyone—any hospital, any report."
At the time of the interview, Sujin stated that neither the government nor the health department had contacted the family.
A complaint has been filed in connection with the incident at the Sadashivanagar police station. "The statements of the family members have been recorded, and an investigation into the matter is underway. An FIR has been lodged under Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) Section 106 (causing death due to negligence)," said Sadashivanagar police station Sub-Inspector.
Meanwhile, officials from Ramaiah Memorial Hospital were unavailable for comment.
