Reeda’s mom seeks apology from Chavan, minister

Reeda Shaikh’s family members on Sunday afternoon hit back at union health minister Gulam Nabi Azad and state chief minister Ashok Chavan for their comments on the death of the 14-year-old.

The family members demanded apology from Azad and Chavan for their comments and demanded an investigation of her death by the CBI.

The family claimed that both Azad and Chavan had stated that Reeda was taken to about three or four hospitals and in the transition she came in contact with at least 85 persons who got infected with the H1N1 virus.

Reeda, who passed away on August 3 due to H1N1, had become the first casualty in the country.

Reeda’s mother Shireen Shaikh, who for the first time made an appearance before the media, demanded an apology from the ministers for the statements issued. “Reeda has sacrificed her life and because of her the entire nation came to know about the infection and its impact. The statements by both the ministers are absolutely rubbish,” she said.

Shireen said the ministers had said that the girl was taken from one hospital to another, which is completely baseless. She questioned as to why government is dilly-dallying in responding to such a contagious infection. “What does the government now want to prove based upon this wrong information which has been provided to the two ministers?” she said.

Reeda’s aunt Ayesha Shaikh said that both the ministers were now discussing the spread of virus through Reeda. “Even Reeda got infected through others. Why are Azad and Chavan not blaming others because of whom Reeda got infected and died,” she said.