Panaji, May 9 : Goa Congress President Girish Chodankar on Sunday said that taking moral responsibility State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane must resingn.
In a statement, he said,”It is not only the administrative errors but the mass corruption by the BJP Government led by Dr Pramod Sawant that has resulted in Covid Emergency in Goa. Health Minister Vishawajit Rane should not try to play victim card now. His greed for making money has resulted in collapse of health sector in Goa. He is equally responsible for all the mess and must resign immediately owning moral responsibility of Covid deaths in Goa.”
Mr Chodankar claimed that the oxygen shortage in Goa was only because of internal feud between Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Health Minister Vishwajit Rane.
”Both of them are busy in sabotaging each others’ plans which has resulted in acute shortage of oxygen in GMC and other hospitals. I want to remind the Health Minister that it was he in connivance with then Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar and Dr Pramod Sawant who kept the completion of South Goa District Hospital on hold. The hidden agenda of Health Minister Vishwajit Rane to start private medical college resulted in two floors of the said hospital being kept vacant despite Covid patients not getting beds in other hospitals,” he said.
The Congress leader alleged that it was surprising that both Chief Minister and Health Minister were conspicuously silent over the serious allegations of corruption levelled by one doctor whose video had gone viral.
”It is disgusting to hear that Health Minister made fortunes even on purchase of ventillators, an equipment which is used as a last resort to save a life. We demand that Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant must order an inquiry through retired high court judge and sack his health minister immediately. Because of greed for commission of Chief Minister and Health Minister, Doctors & Medical Staff are overburdened and stressed today which may result in collopse of healthcare system. Patients and their relatives are being harassed. There is no hygiene in any of the wards of Government hospitals, Toilets and Washrooms are stinking. The health infrastructure is in shambles,” he said.
He claimed that the blunders of the BJP government had resulted in collapse of health infrastructure as there were no proper equipments available to treat patients and doctors, nurses and medical staff were helpless.
”They are facing the burnt of anger of patient’s relatives who attack the medical staff. It is Health Minister and Chief Minister who have put the lives of doctors to risk. The Chief Minister and the Minister of Health are not making any effort to increase the medical workforce to reduce the burden on over-burdened medical personnel.” he said.
”Health Minister who is now trying to play victim card must remember that he betrayed peoples mandate to join BJP government. He is always greedy for power and has not left a single opportunity to make money from various deals. The monopolisation in health department has resulted in loss of credible as well as qualitative service. Health Minister Vishwajit Rane monopolised Oxygen Supply, Food Supply, Medicines, Cleanliness and even staff to make fortunes. There is a scam in home isolation kits given to home quarantine Covid patients. Many patients are not given isolation kits but health department records show a different story. Health Minister wants to make money on everything,” Mr Chodankar alleged.
He said it was a good sign that Health Minister had realised that the administrative errors had delayed implementation of certain decisions which resulted in Covid emergency.
”With this realisation, he must act now in the interest of the nation and reveal the secrets of files in the cupboards of former CM late Manohar Parrikar on Rafale Deal,” Mr Chodankar said.(UNI)