Uddhav Thackeray, chief of the Shiv Sena (UBT), criticised the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government on Friday for the deaths of multiple patients in state-run hospitals in a short period of time, stating that people were dying as a result of its corrupt administration, news agency PTI reported. In a press conference, he also stated that the government had finances to broadcast advertising but not funds to save people's lives. The previous state chief minister said that drugs were obtained without a competitive bidding process.
"If that is going to happen, then you are opening the doors for corruption. People are losing lives because of their corrupt governance," Thackeray was quoted by PTI in its report.
Thirty-five patients, including newborns, perished at Dr Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College and Hospital in Nanded in the 48 hours after September 30, while 18 patients died at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Government Medical College and Hospital between October 2 and 3.
'Body Bag Cut': BJP's Bawankule Hits Back At Uddhav's Remark Against Shinde Govt
Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party president Chandrashekhar Bawankule responded to Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray's strike on the Eknath Shinde government over deaths in state-run hospitals on Friday by claiming the former chief minister did not refrain from taking a cut in the procurement of body bags.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the BJP accused the Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi administration of purchasing body bags at exorbitant costs and suspected bribery in such purchase.
In a post on the social networking site X, Bawankule said that as people died from a shortage of oxygen (during the epidemic), Thackeray was preoccupied with allocating tenders.
Bawankule asked Thackeray to recall the "loot" he received as Maharashtra's chief minister, saying, "You did not even spare taking a cut from procurement of bags for the dead bodies." Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders are being investigated for potential procurement irregularities during the coronavirus outbreak.
In response to Thackeray's complaint that Shinde did not visit the families of those who died in government-run hospitals, Bawankule stated that the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief governed the administration from his house.
Thackeray slammed the Eknath Shinde administration on Friday for the deaths of multiple patients in state-run hospitals in a short period of time, stating that people were dying as a result of its corrupt governance.
In a news conference here, Thackeray also claimed there was a "outbreak of corruption," saying the government had money for commercials but not for saving people's lives.