'Speaking Like BJP Spox': Telangana Health Min Hits Back After Guv Over Concerns About Osmania General Hospital

Minister Harish Rao accused Governor Tamilisai Sounadararajan of speaking like a spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) while being a constitutional officeholder.

After Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan recently expressed concern regarding the condition of historic Osmania General Hospital in Hyderabad, the state's Health Minister T. Harish Rao hit back, saying she was speaking like a spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Tamilisai took to Twitter to highlight the alarming state of the government-run hospital and call for urgent action to commence the construction of a new building. The Governor urged the state government to fulfill its promise of constructing a new building for the hospital.

Responding to the Governor's tweet, Minister Harish Rao accused her of speaking like a spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He stated that there seemed to be clear politics involved in the Governor's comments and expressed disappointment that a constitutional officeholder was behaving like an official spokesperson for a political party.

During a media address, Minister Harish Rao questioned whether the Governor had mentioned any positive achievements of their government. He recalled that the decision to construct a new building for Osmania General Hospital had been made by the Chief Minister in 2015 but had faced legal challenges, which are still pending in court. He emphasised that the government was prepared to proceed with the construction as soon as the legal hurdles were resolved.

Minister Harish Rao also pointed out the commendable efforts of the doctors at Osmania Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic and questioned why the Governor failed to acknowledge the development taking place in the health sector. He mentioned that the state had received numerous awards from the central government in the health sector and highlighted initiatives like Kanti Velugu (an eye care programme) and the increase in the number of beds at NIMS (Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences). The Health Minister expressed his disappointment that the Governor only seemed to focus on negative aspects and failed to recognise the positive strides made in healthcare.