Are you working for people of Karnataka or Gandhi family?” BJP's Vijayendra asks CM Siddarmaiah
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): Expressing reservation over the state government’s plans to purchase land for constructing houses in Kerala’s Wayanad for those affected by the devastating landslides there, state BJP President B Y Vijayendra sought to know whether Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was working for the people of Karnataka or the Gandhi family.
Highlighting certain infrastructural issues faced by Karnataka, he said the state deserves leadership that prioritises its people and development, not one who sidelines the state’s needs for political appeasement.
The Wayanad Lok Sabha seat is currently represented by Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi. Her brother and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi was earlier MP from the constituency.
Siddaramaiah has written to his Kerala counterpart, Pinarayi Vijayan stating that his government is prepared to purchase land for constructing houses in Wayanad for families affected by the devastating landslides.
“Karnataka’s roads have more potholes than tar, investments are slipping to Telangana, North Karnataka remains neglected, and unemployment is rising. Yet, CM Siddaramaiah, who earlier promised to build houses in Kerala, now wants to double down by buying land to facilitate this?” questioned Vijayendra in a post on ‘X’.
“Sir (addressing Siddaramaiah), are you working for the people of Karnataka or for the Gandhi family? Does this reflect the priorities of a leader committed to Karnataka? Our State deserves leadership that prioritizes its people and development, not one who sidelines the State’s needs for political appeasement,” he said.
In a letter to Vijayan dated December 9, Siddaramaiah reiterated his government’s commitment to donate 100 houses to support the affected families, which was announced during his visit to Wayanad following the “unfortunate” landslide incident.
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.
Woman's death: Under fire Pune-based Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital announces 'no deposit' policy
Pune (PTI) The Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Maharashtra's Pune city, under fire for allegedly turning away a pregnant woman over non-payment of Rs 10 lakh as advance for treatment, on Saturday announced it would no longer be taking deposits from patients at the emergency department.
The woman, wife of the personal secretary of BJP MLC Amit Gorkhe, had to be shifted to another hospital where she died after delivering twins. The incident hit national headlines and evoked strong condemnation from leaders cutting across party lines as well as protests from citizens' groups.
In an open letter, the hospital's medical director Dr Dhananjay Kelkar said, "In the early years of Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, we never took a deposit. But as the number of critical cases increased and the cost of complex treatments rose, the hospital began taking deposits in certain high-cost cases."
"However, in light of yesterday's events, we have re-evaluated this practice and passed a resolution that the hospital will no longer take any deposit from patients entering through the Emergency Department, including emergency deliveries and paediatric emergencies. This will be implemented with immediate effect," Dr Kelkar said in the letter.
ALSO READ: Woman died post delivery after Pune hospital refused admission over Rs 10 lakh deposit
He defended the hospital by reiterating that he had personally told the woman's kin to pay as per their ability and also offered all help, but they left with the patient without informing anyone.
While it is factually incorrect and unfair to hold the hospital directly responsible for the incident and the unfortunate death, the hospital is still investigating whether it showed adequate sensitivity towards the patient, Dr Kelkar added.
"I had myself told the woman's relatives to pay whatever amount they could as a deposit and assured them of complete support. However, they left the hospital with the patient without informing anyone," he stated.
Alluding to the protests at the hospital by various political parties on Friday, Dr Kelkar termed it as a "black day".
Without any regard for the hospital's legacy and services, a group participating in the morcha (protest) threw coins at the public relations officer, while some women activists allegedly barged into a hospital run by the parents of Dr. Sushrut Ghaisas and vandalized it.
Dr Ghaisas has been accused by the kin of the deceased woman seeking the deposit ahead of admission.
"Our heads hung in shame when some protestors blackened the names of Lata Mangeshkar and Deenanath Mangeshkar, all of this taking place in front of media cameras," Dr Kelkar said.
An internal inquiry report of the Mangeshkar Hospital had claimed on Friday that the allegations of denial of admission for non-payment of Rs 10 lakh were "misleading" and made "out of frustration" by her family.
The woman's pregnancy was in the high-risk category, and her two underweight foetuses of seven months, coupled with a history of an old ailment, required Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) treatment for at least two months, it said.
The treatment required Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh and the family was advised that in case of lack of funds, they could admit the patient to the government-run Sassoon General Hospital for a complicated surgery, it added.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced the formation of an inquiry panel under the Pune-based Joint Commissioner of Charity to look into the incident.
