Did Cong Walk Out of MP Assembly Over Victoria Hospital Appointments?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Congress Walkout: The walkout was a significant political statement regarding alleged corruption.
- Call for Investigation: Lakhan Ghanghoria's demand for an independent inquiry underscores the need for accountability.
- Historical Significance: Victoria Hospital has a rich history dating back to 1876.
- Transparency Issues: The Deputy CM's claims of transparency are called into question by the allegations.
- Potential Legal Ramifications: The incident involving a doctor with a fake degree highlights serious concerns in hiring practices.
Bhopal, Aug 5 (NationPress) The Congress party staged a walkout from the Assembly on Tuesday, raising concerns about potential irregularities related to the appointments of senior officials at the historic Victoria Hospital in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.
Former Minister and senior Congress MLA from Jabalpur East, Lakhan Ghanghoria, expressed reservations about the use of fraudulent certificates for securing senior roles and insisted on the necessity of an independent investigation.
"Officials at Victoria Hospital in Jabalpur are allegedly holding fake certificates, and the Congress has persistently highlighted this issue through various channels, yet no action has been taken," stated Ghanghoria, who served as the Minister for the Schedule Caste Welfare Department in the Congress government led by Kamal Nath from 2018 to 2020.
In response to the allegations, Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla, who also oversees Health and Medical Education in Madhya Pradesh, asserted that the issue was thoroughly investigated upon its discovery.
"There have been no irregularities in any appointments. All processes within the Madhya Pradesh government are fundamentally transparent," Shukla informed the Assembly.
However, Ghanghoria expressed his dissatisfaction with the Deputy CM's response, alleging that competent candidates were overlooked in favor of ineligible individuals.
Other Congress MLAs joined Ghanghoria, leading to their exit from the Assembly.
Ghanghoria, accompanied by the Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar, senior leader Ajay Singh, and others, conducted a protest outside the Assembly, accusing the state government of engaging in corruption.
The Victoria Hospital, now known as Seth Govind Das District Hospital, was established during British rule in 1876 and was initially the city’s first hospital, named after Queen Victoria.
The hospital complex originally included separate facilities for British and Indian patients, with the esteemed "red building" designated for British individuals and two white buildings for Indian patients.
It later transitioned into a district hospital and was renamed after Seth Govind Das, a notable figure in the Jabalpur district.
Over recent years, this prestigious hospital has faced allegations regarding appointments based on fake certificates.
Earlier in April, Jabalpur police had registered a case against a doctor who was allegedly hired using a fraudulent degree.
Shubham Awasthi, who was relocated from the Damoh district hospital to the cardiology department at Victoria Hospital, was found to possess a fake degree.
Following this revelation, an FIR was filed at a local police station, further intensifying scrutiny over the hospital’s hiring practices.