Congress party is fighting for what Shivaji Maharaj fought for, says Rahul Gandhi
Kolhapur: Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha slammed the BJP and stated that people of "anti-Constitution ideology" had not invited President Droupadi Murmu for the inauguration of the new Parliament in New Delhi and the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
Speaking in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur on Saturday, Gandhi noted that there are two types of ideologies: one seeks to destroy the Constitution, while the other aims to protect it. Referring to Modi government, he remarked, “They did not invite an Adivasi President for the inauguration of new Parliament and Ram Mandir.” He expressed his belief that the Constitution embodies the principles articulated by historical figures Shivaji and Shahuji.
The senior Congress leader noted that Shivaji Maharaj's teachings are reflected in the Constitution. "Constitution is the voice of Shivaji Maharaj. Country belongs to everyone was Shivaji Maharaj's message to the world," he asserted, adding that the Congress party is committed to fighting for what the Maratha warrior Shivaji Maharaj fought for.
Gandhi also criticised the CM Eknath Shinde-led Maha Yuti government over the collapse of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which occurred after it was inaugurated by Modi, which led to massive controversy. "There is no use of bowing before Shivaji Maharaj after scaring people and destroying Constitution, institutions,” he said. He further stated that their intentions were wrong, and the statue gave them a message that honouring Shivaji Maharaj with a statue requires a commitment to protecting his ideology.
Gandhi's visit to Kolhapur comes ahead of the Assembly elections in Maharashtra, scheduled for later this year.
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'Low-quality' catheters supplied to West Bengal govt hospitals at high price, probe ordered
Kolkata (PTI): The West Bengal health department has launched a probe into the supplies of allegedly low-quality and locally made catheters at a high price to several government hospitals, posing a risk to the lives of patients undergoing treatment in these facilities, officials said.
Such central venous catheters (CVCs) were allegedly supplied to at least five medical colleges and hospitals in the state, defying allocation of international standard-compliant CVCs, they said.
The distribution company, which has been accused of supplying these catheters to government hospitals, admitted to the fault but placed the blame on its employees.
"We started checking stocks some time back and found these locally made CVCs in my hospital store. These catheters are of low quality as compared to those allocated by the state. We have informed the state health department," a senior official of the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital told PTI.
Low-quality catheters were also found in the stores of other hospitals, which indicates "possible involvement of insiders in the scam", a health department official said.
The low-quality CVCs were supplied by a distributor in the Hatibagan area in the northern part of Kolkata for the last three to four months, he said.
"Such kinds of local CVCs are priced around Rs 1,500 but the distributor took Rs 4,177 for each device," the official said.
A CVC is a thin and flexible tube that is inserted into a vein to allow for the administration of fluids, blood, and other treatment. It's also clinically called a central line catheter.
"An initial probe revealed that the distribution company Prakash Surgical had supplied the low-quality and locally manufactured catheters to several government hospitals instead of the CVCs of the government-designated international company.
"All the units will be tested and a proper investigation is on to find out who benefited from these supplies," the health department official said.
The distribution company blamed its employees for the supply of inferior quality catheters.
"I was sick for a few months. Some employees of the organisation made this mistake. We are taking back all those units that have gone to the hospitals. It's all about misunderstanding," an official of the distribution company told PTI.
According to another state health department official, a complaint was lodged with the police in this connection.
Asked about how many patients were affected by the usage of such low-quality CVCs, the official said, "The probe would also try to find that out".
According to sources in the health department, some of the staff of the hospitals' equipment receiving departments and some local officials of international organisations might be involved in the alleged irregularities.
