Bhubaneswar: Even as pandemonium continued in the Odisha Assembly over the tragic fire mishap at SCB Medical College and Hospital (MCH) in Cuttack, Leader of Opposition (LoP) and BJD president on Tuesday reiterated his party’s demand for immediate resignation of state Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling.
“I find it shocking that after nine days of the terrible deaths of the patients at the SCB even one Union Minister has not visited the hospital in Cuttack. This is truly shocking. During the tragedy that took place in a private medical college in Bhubaneswar during our tenure, several Union Ministers visited the hospital. You can compare for yourself their concern for people of Odisha and those who died in the blaze,” he told reporters.
Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed grief over the incident, describing it as ‘painful’, none from the Centre has visited since the fire claimed 12 patients undergoing treatment at the ICU of the Trauma Centre of the hospital.
The LoP then went on to demand the resignation of Mahaling , holding the state government responsible for the incident.. “I repeat again that the state Health Minister should resign immediately,” he said.
He added that the BJD would continue its protest over the issue. “You can see the number of deaths and the tragedy that has taken place at SCB. The BJD will continue the protests,” he added.
The Opposition has been stalling the House for six days, seeking resignation of the Health Minister on moral grounds.
While the Odisha government immediately set up a judicial commission to examine the sequence of events, the role and accountability of officials, the hospital’s preparedness, and the effectiveness of emergency response measures, the institution’s superintendent was removed, in a delayed action, after six days on Sunday amid mounting public anger and political pressure.
