Terrorised by minister, UP doc seeks transfer

Politician demands drug supply contract, money

 Notwithstanding the recent suspension of three Samajwadi Party legislators, who had embarrassed the party and the government by their deeds, an Uttar Pradesh minister, who has a criminal antecedent, allegedly terrorised a senior doctor after which the latter has sought his transfer.

The Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) Dr Ram Gopal at the district women’s hospital in Gonda has asked the director general of health to transfer him, saying the Minister of State for Secondary Education Vinod Singh alias Pandit Singh’s goons have been exerting pressure on him to award contracts for the supply of medicines and also demand money from him.

Dr Ram Gopal alleged on Tuesday that Singh’s representative Ajai Deep Srivastava had recently demanded Rs 5,000 from him besides payment for diesel for his vehicle. He said it was not possible for him to work at the hospital.

Singh said he had complained about the rampant corruption at the hospital and termed the allegations against him as an attempt to tarnish his image.

Incidentally a few months ago, the minister had allegedly abducted a senior medical officer in Gonda district when he refused to issue appointment letters to candidates recommended by him for the post of doctors under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).

He and his goons had raided the doctor’s residence in the middle of the night, took him to his office and forced him to put his signature on the list prepared by the minister.

The terrified chief medical superintendent had to be escorted to the state capital under police protection later.

Singh was later sacked after a lot of hue and cry, but was re-inducted in the cabinet by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who claimed the allegations against him were false.

Earlier also, many SP legislators and ministers had violated the law with impunity and had not even spared the policemen.

Mulayam had on many occasions warned party leaders of action against them if they did not mend their ways, but repeated warnings seem to have had no effect.