PANAJI
Panaji BJP MLA Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate on Wednesday launched a heavy attack yet again on the Health Minister and demanded Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to hold the portfolio till the end of Covid crisis in Goa.
Monserrate said that he has written to CM Sawant requesting him to convene a meeting of BJP MLAs and ministers. “Many MLAs have contacted me but they are afraid because this man has a vindictive attitude. But CM distributes the portfolios and he should remove Rane when MLAs themselves are accusing him. What stops the CM from holding the portfolio with him till the crisis gets over?” he demanded.
Aiming fire at Rane, Monserrate further said that he wants answers from the Health Minister for his people’s grievances. “I want to have a face-to-face with whoever the murderers are and I want answers. I will tell the Health Minister that you have murdered the people,” the Panaji MLA stated.
He, however, absolved CM Sawant of any blame and argued that the CM may have not paid attention thinking that everything is running smoothly. Monserrate blamed Ranfor projecting that all is hale and hearty at Goa Medical College and Hospital and claimed that the CM was kept in the dark.
“CM said that there was mismanagement at GMC. Now, he should fix the onus and the blame as to why the people have died. Otherwise, the government will have blood on its hands,” Monserrate said.
He further questioned the logic behind Rane’s demand for a High Court inquiry into the high number of deaths that occur at GMC between 2 and 6 am.
“Can a responsible minister demand a High Court inquiry into his own department? That means he has failed. His mismanagement is failing the government and is tarnishing the name of GMC,” Monserrate stated, adding that Rane should also come clean on how he was aware that 200 to 300 people would die and why was he not better prepared to handle the same.
Monserrate went on to blame Rane for making all the other suppliers of oxygen defunct by relying exclusively on Scoop Oxygen at GMC and argued that this is what has created the oxygen deficit at GMC.
Monserrate insisted that Rane has systematically centralised all power in his own hands at the GMC. Driving his point home, the Panaji MLA sought to highlight that everything has been sold and outsourced as far as GMC is concerned. “Only that building is under the government. The quality of the food provided by Sodexo is bad and no food from outside is allowed to be served to the patients. Multi-Tasking Staffers are made defunct by roping in a private housekeeping agency. I have never seen a Health Minister telling GMC doctors what they should do,” he pointed out.
The long-standing rumours about favouritism and undue prioritization of Valpoi residents at GMC was also raked up with Monserrate claiming that occupied Covid beds are vacated for Valpoi residents on Rane’s orders.
“As the health minister, Rane should work for Goa and not for Valpoi. Other Goans are suffering,” he said.
