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Suspended Gorakhpur doctor demands CBI inquiry into death of children

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Patna | Alleging “targeted victimisation”, Dr Kafeel Khan, who was suspended following the deaths of over 60 children at Gorakhpur’s BRD Hospital in 2017, Tuesday demanded CBI probe into the tragedy.

Khan, who was in Bihar for his “health for all” campaign, alleged that he has been made a scapegoat in the incident which occurred because of shortage of oxygen cylinder supply caused by non-payment of dues to the supplier.

“I demand CBI inquiry into the deaths and also that the trial be transferred outside Uttar Pradesh. Those responsible for the tragedy including top health department officials and the minister concerned, are going about scot free and even heading the departmental inquiry which has been going on for the past 18 months,” he told reporters here.

During his visit to the state, he also campaigned for CPI candidate Kanhaiya Kumar in Begusarai.

Khan, whose brother last year survived bullet injuries in an attack by unidentified assailants in Gorakhpur, also deplored the “insensitive attitude” of the state police and alleged that they “tried their best to delay the surgical intervention required”.

“Investigation by the police has been going on for more than 10 months and it is heading nowhere. We have, therefore, filed a petition in the court for a CBI inquiry into the attack on my brother as there could be involvement of some government officials,” he alleged.

He claimed, “Even the High Court has observed that I was guilty of no medical negligence or corruption nor was I in any way involved in the tender process. An RTI inquiry has also established that the shortage had continued for 54 hours and I had made arrangements for cylinders on my own to save the dying children.”

On his “health for all” drive, Khan underscored the dismal situation of public health care system in the country and pressed the demand for introducing a “Right to Healthcare” through legislation in Parliament.

He also urged the Centre to ensure that at least three per cent of the GDP was spent on healthcare and rued that the existing vacancies in the sector were expected to be about 1.5 lakh which ought to be filled expeditiously.

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Rabri Devi criticises Modi for remaining silent on Muzaffarpur shelter home scandal

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Patna |Former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for failing to speak even “a word” at a rally he addressed in Muzaffarpur on Tuesday on the infamous shelter home sex scandal in the north Bihar city.

The RJD national vice-president and wife of jailed party chief Lalu Prasad vented her ire on the micro-blogging site Twitter.

The leader of Opposition in the legislative council also accused Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and other state cabinet members of being “responsible” for the sexual abuse of inmates of the state-funded care unit.

The matter is being investigated by the CBI under the supervision of the Supreme Court.

“It has been a year since the horrific scandal came to light. Modi has not spoken a word so far. The PM did not utter a word on this sordid episode at the rally where Nitish and his ministers, who have been responsible for the shameful incident, shared the stage,” Rabri Devi tweeted.

The scandal had come to light last year when the Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences, in its social audit report on shelter homes funded by the state social welfare department, had flagged complaints of sexual abuse of inmates of the Muzaffarpur shelter home.

The issue rocked both houses of the legislature in the state as well as Parliament and investigation, which had led to arrests of several accused including prime accused Brajesh Thakur and a number of his close aides besides government officials, was handed over to the CBI.

On the directions of the Supreme Court, Thakur has been transferred to a jail in Patiala while the trial in the case has been shifted to a Special POCSO court in Delhi.

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