RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, April 15: The Jharkhand BJP today demanded a probe by a sitting high court judge or any central investigating agency into the illegal withdrawal of incentives for fighting Covid pandemic by Health Minister Banna Gupta and his personal staff.
Notably, Independent MLA Saryu Roy had levelled such charges and had shot off a letter to Chief Minister Hemant Soren a couple of days back for taking action.
BJP state spokesperson Pratul Nath Shahdeo, addressing a press conference, also demanded the dismissal of the state minister on the issue saying the present style of working of this government was never seen in the past.
“The Mines minister is taking a mining lease in his name and the health minister is taking incentive in his name,” Shahdeo said.
He said: “Decision for giving an incentive equivalent to one month’s salary to the health workers was taken on May 1, 2021. Notification informing about the decision had clearly mentioned the eligibility criteria. But on February 24, 2022, the notification was amended to recommend the name of the minister and employees of his cell for the incentive. In the list of beneficiaries of incentive, the health secretary tops the list followed by the joint secretary, undersecretary, deputy secretary besides others. Everything happened in the direction of the minister.”
Explaining the seriousness of the corruption, Shahdeo said: “While the doctors who sacrificed their life yet to get compensation, the minister and his entire team got the incentive. While the third and fourth grade staff entitled for the incentives are waiting for the payment, the minister and his loyal staff got the same.”
Shahdeo, on the occasion, also pointed out irregularities in the health department.
“Supply of oxygen at Sadar Hospital was done on papers. Genome sequencing machines have not been installed at RIMS so far. Hospitals have not received Rs 180 crore against its claim of Rs 240 crore under the Ayushmaan Scheme,” Shahdeo said.
Meanwhile, the health minister has called a press conference at 5pm to give a clarification on this episode.
