Sack Banna Gupta, order probe into incentive scam: Jharkhand BJP

Mail New Service

Ranchi, April 15: State BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo Friday demanded a high level probe into the alleged incentive scam of health department and also sought dismissal of the state Health Minister Banna Gupta with immediate effect.

Addressing a press conference at the state BJP office, Shahdeo said the government should either get the probe done by a sitting judge of the Jharkhand High Court or some Central government agency.

“Health Minister Banna Gupta has done something which has never been seen earlier. He has misappropriated the incentive meant to be given to the Corona warriors, our health workers, and others who risked their lives during the pandemic. But the Health Minister brought shame to the government and his department by usurping the incentive and sharing it with his partners in the scam,” said Shahdeo.

The BJP leader further accused Arun Kumar Singh, Secretary, Health Department, Government of Jharkhand, for claiming the incentive as a beneficiary. “The Joint Secretary, Under Secretary and Deputy Secretary have all been included in the list of beneficiaries who were given the incentive. All this has taken place under the instructions of the Health Minister. The Health Secretary should have protested this act of the Minister under the Rule of Executive Business,” he said.

The BJP spokesperson said the doctors who lost their lives during the Covid pandemic have not got compensation from the state government as yet. Even the third and fourth grade health workers, who deserved the benefits, have not been paid the incentive. But unfortunately, the Health Minister and his near and dear ones have benefitted from the incentive, he said.

Shahdeo said the Health Minister was trying to mislead the people by claiming to have no knowledge about the scam.

“The state government had issued a letter on 1^st May 2021 regarding payment of incentive equal to one month’s salary to the health workers during the pandemic. Eligibility criteria of the beneficiaries were clearly mentioned in the letter. But on 24^th February, the notification was amended to include the name of the Health Minister and members of his various cells,” said Shahdeo.

The BJP leader said oxygen cylinders were supplied to Sadar Hospital only on paper. “At RIMS, Ranchi, genome sequencing machine has not been installed till date. Also, out of the Rs 250 crore claims made by hospitals under the Ayushman scheme, Rs 180 crore still remains unpaid. Who has stopped the payment? Payments should be made after verification or else the Ayushman scheme will lose its relevance in Jharkhand,” he said.