UP min seeks appointment of BJP workers at hospitals

A minister in Uttar Pradesh embarrassed his government after he wrote a letter to one of his colleagues seeking appointment of BJP workers in a district hospital in the state to "boost" their morale.

Minister of State for Labour Manohar Lal Panth asked the Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh to appoint saffron party workers in the district hospital in Lalitpur on contractual posts.

"The previous Samajwadi Party (SP) regime had appointed its workers on contractual posts in the hospital...they do not work and only create problems," he said.

"These SP workers should be sacked and efficient and honest BJP workers should be appointed in their place," Panth said in his letter.

As the minister's letter created a huge controversy and drew sharp criticism from the Opposition parties, the minister clarified that he felt that appointment of BJP workers would "boost" their morale and also improve the state of affairs at the district hospital.

While the health officials, as well as the BJP leaders, sought to distance themselves from the minister's letter, the SP slammed him for the letter saying that it proved that merit had no place in this regime.

"How can a minister write a letter for appointing workers of his party at a government hospital.....he should be sacked immediately," said a senior SP leader.

Local BJP leaders said that the party did not support Panth's letter and added that the content of the letter was Panth's "personal opinion".