Kerala CM has become a laughing stock in front of people, says Congress
Kozhikode (PTI): The opposition Congress in Kerala on Monday alleged that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who does not allow people to wear black masks or use black flags even for funerals has now become a laughing stock in front of the people of the state.
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly V D Satheesan said the Chief Minister has become a "coward" who hides behind policemen.
The Congress-led UDF has been organising widespread protest against the Left government in Kerala over the budget decision to impose Rs two cess on fuel prices in the state.
Satheesan was referring to reports of an alleged ban on black attire and masks at a Kozhikode event of the Chief Minister yesterday.
"By not allowing people to wear black masks or use black flags even for funerals, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has now become a laughing stock in front of the people of the state. He has turned into a coward who would run into a thousand policemen even if children were waving black flags along the road," Satheesan told reporters here.
He said the protesting Congress workers were termed as "suicide squads" by the CPI(M) party state Secretary M V Govindan.
"When we announced a protest against tax imposition, the Chief Minister said the UDF only knows how to conduct Satyagraha. But now, the Chief Minister is hiding behind the police. CPI(M) has admitted that the opposition's struggle has grown from satyagraha to suicide squad. Apart from being called urban naxalites and terrorists, the protesters are now being called suicide squads," Satheesan said.
He said his party will intensify the protest.
The Congress in Kerala had on Sunday threatened legal action against the allegedly illegal preventive detention of some of its party leaders and workers during Vijayan's visit to Kozhikode for an event.
Some Congress workers were taken into custody by the police while they were standing on a road close to the route to be taken by the Chief Minister and visuals were aired on TV channels showing them questioning their detention.
The Congress had on Sunday questioned why the CPI(M) and the Kerala Chief Minister were against protests when they have a proud tradition of holding agitations.
Govindan had earlier referred to the black flag protestors as "suicide squads" of the Congress who were bent on throwing themselves in front of the Chief Minister's cavalcade.
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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 anyone from the government nor from 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.
