The entire second floor of the Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial hospital in Raipur was vacated for Chattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh’s family, leading to patients having to share beds in the floor below.
Singh’s daughter-in-law, Aishwariya Singh was due for delivery, and as a result, the hospital had to make provisions to relocate 1,200 patients to the first floor. Not only was she given a separate room on the second floor, three others were converted into security centres, which have reportedly been occupied by nearly 50 police personnel. According to reports by NDTV, some of the patients had to share beds in the floor below, due to overcrowding.
We were admitted on Friday and got only one bed... It is difficult to share a bed. We told them, but they said you will have to manage. Nobody is listening to us.One of the patients being forced to share a bed, told NDTV
This move has earned Raman Singh a lot of flak from the opposing Congress party who have criticised him for obtaining VIP treatment for his daughter-in-law, at the cost of the comfort of other patients admitted in the hospital.
We welcome the new member in his family, but the Chief Minister’s daughter-in-law got VIP treatment. The entire hospital was turned like into a cantonment. Two pregnant women are being forced to share one bed. This is shameful and apathetic treatment for those who elected them to power.Congress spokesperson Vikash Tiwari, as reported by NDTV
The BJP however, are alluding that this is a matter of great honour for the hospital, considering the Chief Minister chose to admit his daughter-in-law in a government hospital instead of an expensive private hospital.
This was also the same hospital where four babies had died in August, due to the alleged drunken negligence of an attendant, because of whom the oxygen supply had stopped for 30 whole minutes.
The preferential treatment didn’t extend to the doctors of the hospital either. Some doctors affiliated with the hospital, who were recovering from food poisoning, were removed to the first floor as well.
We have a sick room, and as per provisions, they should have admitted all of us to the sick room, but they have converted the sick room to a police control room.One of the ailing doctors told NDTV
A BJP spokesperson told Times Now that the arrangements to clear the hospital floor were necessary because there was a matter of security from outside threats to consider.
Chhattisgarh has a prevailing Naxalite problem and therefore, the Chief Minister has been accorded Z plus security. The Chief Minister is working round the clock to serve the state. On that day, arrangements were made to make sure that the CM’s family is safe,” a spokesperson stated.A BJP spokesperson told Times Now
With inputs from NDTV and Times Now
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