Ambikapur, June 11: From an utterly backward region as part of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh has now developed into a prosperous state under the BJP rule, BJP President Amit Shah said here on Monday.
He said that the state's Bastar region was also coming out of the throes of Maoism, thanks to sustained efforts by the state government and stressed that riding on development, the BJP would achieve its "Mission 65" (of winning 65 out of 90 legislative assembly seats) in the upcoming elections.
Appreciating the efforts of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, Shah said: "Chhattisgarh used to be a part of Madhya Pradesh. It was then called a 'Bimaru' state because of lack of development during the Congress rule.
"Today Chhattisgarh is among the developed states in the country thanks to the achievements of Raman Singh government in the fields of agriculture, road connectivity, subsidised food grains and free medical treatment for the poor among other things."
The state was carved out of Madhya Pradesh in November 2000 by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.
Shah said that with governments at both the Centre and the state, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was like a "double-engine vehicle" of development.
"Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi India is constantly moving ahead and the world is looking up to India. Similarly, under Chief Minister Raman Singh, Chhattisgarh is making progress and the rest of the states in the country are looking at Chhattisgarh as a role model for development," he said.
Shah also mentioned several development initiatives and schemes undertaken by the Centre's Modi government during the last four years.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Satna/Bhopal (PTI): Four children suffering from thalassemia have tested HIV positive at Satna District Hospital in Madhya Pradesh allegedly due to contaminated blood transfusions, officials said on Tuesday.
The case is four months old and an investigation is underway into it, an official said.
Officials suspect the use of contaminated needles or blood transfusions for the spread of infection to the children.
ALSO READ: 3 Indian students among those injured in Australia’s Bondi Beach attack
MP Health Minister Rajendra Shukla told reporters in Bhopal that he has ordered a probe into the matter and sought a report.
“It is also being investigated whether the blood transfusion took place in other hospitals also or only in the government hospital,” he said.
The affected children, aged between 12 and 15 years, received blood transfusions from the hospital's blood bank, as per an official.
Devendra Patel, in-charge of the blood bank at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel District Hospital in Satna, said four children have tested HIV positive and an investigation is underway to determine how they got infected.
"Either an infected needle was used or a blood transfusion occurred. These are the two main reasons I believe. Blood transfusion seems to be the most likely cause," he told PTI Videos.
All these children suffer from thalassemia, and some have received 80 or 100 blood transfusions, he said.
A family member of one of the affected children said that their child was found to be HIV positive during a routine checkup about four months back, and he has been receiving medication, but it had proven to be of no use.
After taking the medication for HIV, the child starts vomiting, feels low and becomes ill, he said.
After the four children were detected with HIV infection, their family members were also tested and the results came out negative, he added.
The Opposition Congress targeted the government over the matter and demanded the resignation of Health Minister Shukla.
Speaking to reporters in Bhopal, Congress MLA and former minister Sachin Yadav claimed such incidents were continuously occurring in Madhya Pradesh.
Earlier, a case of toxic cough syrup came to light in Chhindwara, followed by incidents of rat bites at hospitals in Indore and Satna, and now children have been given HIV-infected blood, he said.
"The health minister is unable to manage the department. He should resign. A murder case should be filed against those responsible for the Satna incident," Yadav said.
Senior Congress leader Sajjan Singh Verma termed it a failure of the government. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's government has no connection with ground realities, he charged.
"Somewhere rats are roaming in hospitals, somewhere children are being given HIV-infected blood. Instead of preventing HIV, you are spreading it. Mohan Yadav should wake up from his slumber. Children are the nation's heritage and should be taken care of," he added.
