Will soon meet Sasikala, Dhinakaran to unite AIADMK: O Panneerselvam
Chennai, Aug 27: AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam on Saturday said he would soon meet the expelled interim general secretary V K Sasikala and her nephew T T V Dhinakaran, heading the AMMK party, as part of his initiatives to unite the AIADMK now divided over the leadership issue.
He said he would also call on all those who worked for the party under the leadership of late Chief Ministers M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa, and convince them.
"All our thoughts and deeds are oriented towards ensuring a unified AIADMK. This is also the collective view of 1.5 crore party cadres," Panneerselvam told reporters at his residence here after Usilampatti legislator P Ayyappan met him and pledged support to Panneerselvam's faction in the tussle between the latter and another senior leader and former chief minister K Palaniswami.
Ayyappan, who had backed Palaniswami on the single leadership issue, sprang a surprise today by calling on former Chief Minister Panneerselvam. He said the change in his stance was in response to the latter's call for a united AIADMK.
"He (Palaniswami) enacted a drama under the guise of holding a general council meeting on July 11. The truth is that party workers are migrating towards my side, as they aspire for a united AIADMK," Panneerselvam said.
During the meeting, the former Chief Minister Palaniswami was anointed as interim general secretary of the AIADMK while Panneerselvam was expelled from the party.
The July 11 general council meeting during which he was expelled from the party had subsequently been declared by the Madras High Court as void.
Several persons are wholeheartedly expressing their support to him and soon many others would follow, Panneerselvam said and reiterated that a united party would augur well for its future.
Asked who is next to join his camp, Panneerselvam replied "it is a top secret."
"Certainly many would join," he added.
On the report submitted to the State government by retired judge A Arumughaswamy, on the circumstances leading to the death of Jayalalithaa, Panneerselvam said he would react after reading the 600-page report.
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UP govt sacks five doctors, orders action against 16 health officials for negligence
Lucknow (PTI): Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Brajesh Pathak on Friday ordered strict action against several health officials, including the dismissal of five doctors from service, over alleged negligence, dereliction of duty and irregularities in the health department.
According to an official statement issued by his office, five medical officers were dismissed for remaining absent from duty for a prolonged period without information and for staying away from medical work.
Those dismissed include Dr Alaknanda of the district hospital in Gorakhpur, Dr Ramji Bhardwaj posted under the Kushinagar Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Saurabh Singh posted under the Balrampur CMO, Dr Viklesh Kumar Sharma of CHC Jagdishpur in Amethi and Dr Monica Verma of CHC Dibiyapur in Auraiya, it stated.
The government also ordered departmental disciplinary proceedings against 16 medical officers, including Ambedkar Nagar CMO Dr Sanjay Kumar Shaival and Deputy CMO Dr Sanjay Verma, over alleged irregularities in the registration and renewal process of private hospitals, nursing homes and ultrasound centres, it added.
According to the statement, "the two officers were found guilty of deliberately violating government norms, misusing their positions and showing negligence in clearing files for personal interests."
"A preliminary inquiry conducted by a three-member committee, including an Additional District Magistrate, reportedly confirmed several complaints against them, following which Pathak ordered strict action."
Departmental proceedings were also ordered against Hardoi Medical Superintendent Dr Manoj Kumar Singh for allegedly failing to act against unauthorised private hospitals operating in the district and neglecting official responsibilities.
The health department has also sought an explanation from the Hardoi CMO over assigning senior-level responsibilities to a junior doctor despite the availability of senior officers in the district.
The statement said action has also been initiated against several doctors in separate cases related to alleged negligence in treatment, administrative lapses, improper medico-legal examinations and misconduct with colleagues.
Among them are Dr Shameem Akhtar of Prayagraj, doctors and a pharmacist posted at CHC Lambhua in Sultanpur, and two doctors at the district hospital in Mathura accused of negligence in preparing medico-legal reports in an assault case.
Departmental proceedings were also ordered against doctors posted in Balrampur, Varanasi, Badaun, Lakhimpur Kheri, Sambhal and other districts for alleged negligence in medical duties.
In another case, Dr Rituj Agrawal, an associate professor in the orthopaedics department of the government medical college in Badaun, faces disciplinary action over allegations of abusing and misbehaving with a woman doctor and another colleague.
Two doctors -- Dr Pratibha Yadav of Bahraich and Dr Rakesh Singh of Mathura -- have been awarded censure punishment in separate negligence-related cases.
The statement further said the deputation of Dr Aditya Pandey, who was posted with the State Health Agency under the cashless treatment scheme for government employees, has been terminated with immediate effect over alleged misconduct and inappropriate behaviour with a colleague.
He has been sent back to his original posting in Raebareli and departmental action has also been ordered, it added.
The government has also ordered withholding of salary increments in several cases. Dr Lalmani, a gynaecologist currently posted in Hamirpur, has been penalised with permanent stoppage of three increments and censure punishment over allegations of extortion from patients and misbehaviour during an earlier posting in Azamgarh.
Four increments of Dr Santosh Singh of Balrampur and two increments of Dr Nisha Bundela of Jhansi have also been withheld.
Action has also been directed against Dr Pawan Sahu, an orthopaedic surgeon at the trauma centre in Moth, Jhansi, after allegations of private practice against him were found to be true, the statement added.
