New Delhi: As protests continued over the suspension of licence of Sanjay Gandhi Hospital in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi, Union Minister and Amethi MP Smriti Irani on Tuesday lashed out at the Congress, saying instead of supporting the family of the deceased, the opposition party was "crying over the loss of their profits".
Former Congress MLC Deepak Singh staged a dharna at the office of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) on Monday to protest the decision to suspend the licence of the hospital, run by a trust headed by Sonia Gandhi.
Speaking about the Congress' protest, Irani said, "A woman died due to lack of facilities at the hospital. Instead of taking action against those responsible, the Congress is more worried about their profits being stopped."
"Is the life of an ordinary citizen of Amethi worth nothing?" Irani questioned the Congress party.
The licence was suspended on September 17 following the death of a woman patient who was admitted there for a minor operation on September 14. Her husband has alleged that she was given an overdose of anesthesia, which worsened her condition and ultimately led to her death.
Samajwadi Party district chief Ram Udit Yadav on Tuesday joined the dharna by the Congress members at the office of the Chief Medical Officer, around 12 km from the hospital.
Over 400 employees have also started an indefinite dharna at the hospital gate against the state government's decision.
The Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Trust in Delhi manages the Sanjay Gandhi Hospital. Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi is the chairperson of this trust, while party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are its members.
The Sanjay Gandhi Hospital's management has decided to appeal the suspension of its licence.
BJP MP Varun Gandhi and Congress state president Ajay Rai had written separate letters to Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, requesting that the hospital's licence be reinstated.