A West Bengal minister today told the state assembly that the AMRI Hospital fire tragedy would not have happened had there been no "indifference" on the part of the erstwhile Left Front government.
A West Bengal minister today told the state assembly that the AMRI Hospital fire tragedy would not have happened had there been no "indifference" on the part of the erstwhile Left Front government.
Surabta Mukherjee, who holds Public Health and Engineering portfolio, made the remark while replying to a debate in the state assembly on the West Bengal State Health Service (Amendment) BILL, 2011.
He, however, did not elaborate anything further in the matter.
Mukherjee, who was replying to the debate in the absence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who is also looking after the health department, criticised the previous Left Front government for the poor condition of healthcare during its 34 years of rule.
Referring to the earlier demand of CPI(M) leader and former Health Minister Surya Kanta Mishra who had wanted Mamata Banerjee to step down and allow a full-time Health Minister to take over, Mukherjee said she was a "dynamic" leader and her holding the health portfolio would also benefit the people.
The minister alleged the previous government had not done anything to improve the situation and destroyed the healthcare system.
Earlier participating in the debate, Mishra, who is the Leader of the Opposition, said the present government should focus on improving the health infrastructure built by the Left.
Under the West Bengal State Health Service (Amendment) Bill, 2011, two new state-run medical colleges, each having 100 seats, will be set up.
He said while one medical college would be set up in Malda district another would come up at Kamarhati in North 24 Parganas district.
Mishra, who supported the bill, said there should be one medical college in each district.
He, however, slammed the Mamata Banerjee government for not laying in the House an ordinance promulgated earlier in May this year by the state government in the matter and walked out of the House along with other Left Front legislators at the fag end of the debate on the bill.
The bill was adopted by the House by a voice vote.
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