10 newborns have died in the last 48 hours in Kota Hospital, Rajasthan. Chief minister Ashok Gehlot has courted controversy with his insensitive remark. He said, "Such deaths happen everywhere." BJP says Congress' negligence stands exposed.
Kota: On the day when Congress celebrates its Foundation Day, senior leader of the party and chief minister of Rajasthan has ended courting controversy with his most insensitive remark. When questioned about the death of newborns in Kota Hospital, he said such "deaths happen everywhere".
Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot said, "Even one child's death is unfortunate. But there have been 1,300 to 1,500 deaths in a year in the past. This year, the figure is 900. This also should not happen. It happens everywhere. It happens in Jaipur also and in the country every day. It is not a new thing."
The BJP took no time in condemning this shameful statement of the Congress leader. Senior party leader and spokesperson Ashwini Upadhyay said, "This incident exposes the negligence of the Congress party. I pity the statement made by the CM with respect to a sensitive issue like this. He should have taken stringent measures like suspending the concerned hospital authority, before issuing such statements."
Rajasthan health minister Raghu Sharma has ordered the officials to "ensure proper treatment and due care of children admitted" in the Kota hospital where 10 newborns have died in 48 hours.
Meanwhile, an inquiry committee has been constituted to investigate the cause of death of the newborn at a hospital in Kota. "Inquiry committee has been formed. The cause of death is yet to be examined. All the issues, relating to cleanliness, facilities, medical equipment, will be looked into," said Vaibhav Galriya, state health-education secretary.
"Why are we waiting for such incidents, how is it happening to newborns? Life and death are not in our hands, but if this incident has occurred due to anybody's carelessness, they will be strictly punished," said deputy CM Sachin Pilot.
Rajasthan State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights has directed district collector Kota and secretary, Health Education Department, to conduct a high-level enquiry and apprise the commission about its report at the earliest.
As many as 10 newborns have died in 48 hours at a maternal and child hospital in Kota raising alarm for authorities and state government. According to a hospital official, 77 deaths have taken place until now in the month of December.
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