Bhubaneswar: Leader of opposition Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday questioned the Union govt’s silence on the fire that broke out on March 16 at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack that killed 12 patients and reiterated his demand for health minister Mukesh Mahaling’s resignation, even as BJD and Congress members continued their protest inside the assembly.Speaking to reporters, Naveen said, “I find it shocking that even after nine days of the terrible deaths at SCB, not even one Union minister has visited the hospital in Cuttack. This is truly shocking.”The former CM further said that during a similar incident at a private medical college when his govt was in power, several Union ministers had visited. Holding the state govt responsible for the tragedy, Naveen said the BJD would continue its protest. “You can see the number of deaths and the tragedy that has taken place,” he added.Countering Naveen, BJP MLA Tankadhar Tripathy said the BJD was using the fire incident to stall House proceedings to hide intra-party bickering. “The assembly runs on taxpayers’ money to debate people’s issues. If the BJD is sincere, it should raise the hospital deaths issue inside the assembly instead of staging protests,” Tripathy said.He alleged the BJD was using the hospital fire to divert attention from internal differences over the formation of a trust in New Delhi using the names of Biju Patnaik and Naveen, which came to light before the recent Rajya Sabha elections.BJD MLA Arun Sahoo said the hospital issue was serious and the govt was indifferent to it.In the House, the opposition MLAs continued their protest by storming into the well with placards and shouting slogans, pressing for Mahaling’s resignation.
