“TMC leaders who are accused in corruption cases have turned SSKM Hospital into a resort. These people occupy beds for months while the common man is denied treatment. This is one of the oldest hospitals of the country but look at its present condition. It has become a safe home for criminals. The Woodburn ward turns into a recreation centre after sunset,” said Chowdhury while speaking to mediapersons at a protest rally in Kolkata.
Congress workers led by Chowdhury took out a march to SSKM Hospital on Saturday to protest against the deterioration of the health sector across the state. The rally which was taken out from Jadu Babu Bazar was stopped by the police near a gurdwara on Harish Mukherjee Road. To mark their protest, Chowdhury and his party workers blocked the road. The agitation was lifted after a five-member delegation was allowed to submit a deputation to the hospital authorities.
“There is corruption and mismanagement in all state-run hospitals in West Bengal. Common people are not getting basic treatment. One has to pay the agents or middlemen to get beds in such facilities. Congress will continue to fight to end this corrupt practice. People like Sujoy Krishna Bhadra were admitted to the paediatric ward of SSKM Hospital to save him from an Enforcement Directorate investigation,” said Chowdhury.
On January 3, the ED picked up Kolkata-based businessman Sujay Krishna Bhadra, who was arrested by the agency last year in alleged connection with the school jobs ‘scam’, from the SSKM hospital after waiting for months to collect his voice sample.
Bhadra had been admitted at the SSKM Hospital for the past four months on medical grounds.
Meanwhile, the Congress Berhampore MP also slammed the BJP for indulging in politics over the consecration ceremony of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Chowdhury said, “None of the BJP leaders went to Supreme Court for (the construction of) Ram Mandir. But now, they are taking credit. This is nothing but to garner votes in the impending elections. Several saints have also put out statements that the consecration ceremony is not being executed in a religious manner. In the name of ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, they are indulging in politics.”