Congress Flays KCR Over Rise In Swine Flu Cases

Deputy CLP leader in the Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir flayed Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao for being non-responsive to the rise in cases of swine flu across Telangana State.

About 100 persons had gotten affected and 17 of them had died due to swine flu in the past few weeks, he claimed.

Addressing a press conference in the Assembly premises on Tuesday, Shabbir Ali accused the Chief Minister of tuning his entire cabinet into denial mode with regard to swine flu cases.

He said that Deputy Chief Minister Dr T Rajaiah, who also held the Medical & Health portfolio, initially denied the outbreak of swine flu. On December 18, he finally admitted three deaths, but claimed that there were no more cases of swine flu in the State. Further, instead of issuing an alert, he dismissed all apprehensions and described swine flu as non-fatal. His claims were proved wrong as several deaths were reported after he made this statement, and more and more people were getting infected by the disease every day, Shabbir Ali alleged.

The Congress leader said that the Chief Minister should have held a review meeting on the outbreak of seasonal and other diseases including swine flu. He said that it was strange that the Chief Minister did not hold a single review meeting on health issues during his seven-month rule.

Stating that he (Shabbir Ali) was not politicising the issue, he advised the government not to suppress the facts fearing criticism from the opposition parties. He said that the precious lives of the common people could be saved by taking precautions and creating awareness.

Shabbir Ali also slammed the State Government for completely ignoring the health sector. He said that the government hospitals lacked doctors, nursing staff, equipment, technicians and even hygienic conditions.

Referring to the night halts by the Deputy CM at the Osmania and Gandhi hospitals, he said that those visits were aimed merely at drawing publicity, and that no follow-up action was taken. He said that both the public hospitals were yet to get the promised Rs 100 crores grant from the State Government.

The Congress leader appealed to the Chief Minister to take special interest and direct the officials to take the required measures to stop the rise of swine flu and other diseases in the State. (INN)