Deaths in VIMS: CM Bommai trashes demand for Health Minister’s resignation

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday junked the Opposition’s demand that State Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar resign and held him responsible for the deaths in the Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS).

Bommai said it is the job of the opposition to seek Sudhakar’s resignation,and added that the Congress has developed a tendency to politicise every issue.

“In the past when the Congress government tabled the Karnataka Private Hospitals Bill, the doctors went on a 5-day strike resulting in the death of 80 people. Did the Congress government take moral responsibility? Did anyone resign that time? Did the then Health Minister resign? The Congress tends to politicise every issue,” the Chief Minister charged.

Maula Hussein (35), suffering from kidney-related ailments, and Chettemma (30), a snake-bite victim, in the ICU of the State-run medical institution in the district headquarters town of Ballari on Wednesday died allegedly due to power failure. Some reports attributed the deaths to power cut and a defunct power generator at the government medical college hospital.