RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, March 21: Jamshedpur MLA Saryu Roy on Tuesday wrote to the Jharkhand assembly speaker to start contempt proceedings against state minister Banna Gupta for misleading the assembly by giving false statements.
“Today, my short notice question was listed in the House regarding action taken by the health department on irregularities in the purchase of medicines. I was instructed by the chair to ask the supplementary question. I could only ask one supplementary question the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India and the Ministry of Health, on procurement of medicines from the Public Sector Undertakings of the Government of India, are binding or advisory to the Government.”
The Minister replied that it is binding. Thereafter, due to disorder, the proceedings of the House were adjourned till noon today by the Chair. “I could not ask the rest of the supplementary questions. But the answer given by the Honorable Minister to my only supplementary question is completely wrong. By this reply he has misled the House, told untruths before the House and tried to hide his corruption,” he wrote to the speaker demanding contempt proceedings.
He with his letter presented a copy of the letter from the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India mentioning that it is not mandatory to purchase medicines from government institutions only.
In this letter the legislator also explained the irregularities.
He informed that the health department purchased the same 1gm vial of Cefoperazone injection, from Karnataka Antibiotics, a Government of India company, for Rs. 41.56 per vial which was bought through tender from Pushkar Pharma for Rs 24.60 per vial.
