Power outage in VIMS was pre-planned to remove me as its director: Dr Gangadhara Gouda
Bengaluru/Ballari, Sep 17: In a twist to the suspected deaths due to power outage in Karnataka, Ballari-based Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) director Dr T Gangadhara Gouda alleged that it was a pre-planned act to defame him.
Maula Hussein (35), suffering from kidney-related ailments, and Chettemma (30), a snake-bite victim, died at the state-run medical institution in the district headquarters town of Ballari on Wednesday at 9.30 am and 9.35 am respectively.
Some reports attributed the deaths to power cut and a defunct power generator at the government medical college hospital.
Speaking to reporters, Dr Gouda said: "I have heard certain audio clips related to the case. It (power outage) was pre-planned. I will collect all the details as to how they (the conspirators) contacted and connived with others and submit a report to the deputy commissioner of the district." He added that he will lodge a complaint as well.
"The power was disconnected, as I was appointed as the director (of VIMS) on August 19. I do not have a definite information as to who disconnected power. I will lodge a complaint after getting confirmation (about the conspirators)," the VIMS director said.
When asked whether it was an act to tarnish his reputation, he said, "Yes. Some people could not tolerate that I am continuing in this post. They made this attempt to remove me from here. You will get to know the details."
Dr Gangadhar refused to divulge the details of the audio clip but said he would let everyone know about the incident.
He also said he is prepared for a legal battle if such a situation arises and may also file a police complaint.
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who was in Kalaburagi on Saturday, said the government will take action based on a report submitted by the team formed to probe the death of patients in VIMS.
"The team constituted by the state government to probe the death of patients visited VIMS yesterday. Action will be taken based on the investigation report," Bommai told reporters in Kalaburagi.
The Chief Minister expressed his sorrow over the incident saying that he was pained to learn about the incident.
To a query on former chief minister Siddaramaiah's displeasure over state Health Minister K Sudhakar not visiting the hospital yet, Bommai said the government is doing its job.
Meanwhile, Sudhakar and Siddaramaiah traded barbs on the issue with the latter claiming that five people died.
"It is said five people have died, the health minister or any other minister has not yet visited the hospital yet, Siddaramaiah said.
Charging that the government claimed that no one died due to power outage, Siddaramaiah sought to know why the government gave the next-of-kin of the victims an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh when the cause of death was not power failure. The government is lying, he alleged.
Sudhakar flayed Siddaramaiah saying that the latter's statement was unbecoming of a leader.
"When I learnt about the incident, the same day I constituted a committee. The same day they went there and investigated the matter, the health minister said.
He pointed out that both the patients who died had health issues and both were admitted in the Intensive Care Unit.
"Because there was a problem, those who died were in the ICU. If there was no health problem, why would they have been on ventilators. The investigation is on but I am not going to say authoritatively that the incident happened in a certain manner," Sudhakar said.
I have certain information but will not speak without the final report. After getting the report, I will table it in the Assembly. Let the Assembly decide, the minister said.
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Marxism will remain relevant despite Left electoral's losses, says general secretary M A Baby
New Delhi (PTI): CPI(M) General Secretary M A Baby on Thursday asserted that the Left movement would remain relevant despite not being in power in any state, saying the ideology would continue to endure as long as social and economic inequalities persist.
Hitting back at BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar over his reported remarks that Marxism had become irrelevant, Baby, in an interview with PTI Videos, said, "So long as there is division in society, so long as there is exploitation of the majority of workers, peasants and ordinary masses by a handful of billionaires, Marxism will remain relevant."
"That perhaps Mr Rajeev Chandrasekhar may not be able to understand, but this is the fact of the matter," he said.
Baby acknowledged that the CPI(M)-led Left was currently without an elected government in any state, but maintained that electoral setbacks would not diminish the movement's role.
"We may not have an elected government in any state. There were occasions when we didn't have a government. But the red flag and the commitment to organise and struggle for the rights of the dispossessed, marginalised and exploited will always be upheld by CPI(M) and the Left movement," he said.
He said the Left continued to enjoy support among workers, peasants, agricultural labourers, youth, students and women, and argued that the movement remained necessary because "oppression and assault" continued in society.
"So long as such problems exist in society, the red flag and the working class movement will continue to work among the masses," the Left leader said.
Exuding confidence on the Left's revival, Baby said the party would reflect on the reasons behind its electoral loss.
"We may be rejected in one election, but we will stage our comeback by understanding what went wrong with us," he said, adding, "We will listen to people and we will come back with higher strength."
Baby also criticised the Congress over reported factional tensions in Kerala after the Congress-led United Democratic Front's victory in the state.
"The way they are behaving is being watched by the people of Kerala," he said, referring to infighting within the Congress.
"Those who have given a massive majority to Congress and UDF would be watching all this," he added, while urging party leaders to "settle the problem in an amicable, democratic manner".
Referring to West Bengal, Baby alleged that violence had escalated following the BJP's victory in the state assembly polls.
"It is quite unfortunate that the moment BJP snatched a massive victory in West Bengal, violence has also started on a big scale," he said.
He also accused the Trinamool Congress of being "notorious for violent activities" and alleged that the "RSS-controlled BJP" had "unleashed violence in many places" after the election results.
"This is not good for Bengal, not good for the country. We wish and hope that normalcy would be restored as soon as possible," he said.
Baby said the CPI(M) and the Left in West Bengal would continue efforts to "pacify people" and avoid violence and confrontation.
Asked about former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan not reacting publicly to the election results, Baby said Vijayan would respond "at an appropriate time".
