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THE FEVERISH DRAMA
* Ministers Francis D'Souza and Rajendra Arlekar visit Community Health Centre to take stock of KFD cases in Sattari
* There they are confronted by two AAP leaders, claiming the government was not serious in tackling the increasing KFD cases
* To the rescue of the ministers come the BJP workers present in the hall accusing AAP of indulging in politics
* The KFD issue is now quickly forgotten and the topic quickly turned into the 2017 elections
* BJP will win 26 seats, says a party worker who taunts AAP members which is yet to make a mark in State polls
* An AAP member hits back saying the BJP couldn't do anything in the last four years, what will it do in remaining one year's time
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ON HIGH ALERT:
DEALING WITH
MONKEY FEVER
>> See pg 5
DISAGREEMENT
ON HANDLING
OF KFD CASES
>> See pg 6
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VALPOI: A high-level meeting to deliberate on the Kyasanur forest disease (KFD) or Monkey fever turned into a feverish political battle at Valpoi on Saturday, as AAP workers and BJP supporters were engaged in verbal clashes in the presence of two ministers.
The incident took place as Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Francis D'Souza and Forest Minister Rajendra Arlekar conducted a joint meeting with health officials, veterinary officials, CHC Visiting Committee, sarpanchas, Sattari mamlatdar and chairperson of Valpoi municipal council at the Community Health Centre in Valpoi, to take stock of KFD cases in Sattari.
The meeting took an unusual turn when two AAP leaders, Vishwesh Parob and Valmiki Naik, confronted the ministers and claimed that the government has not been serious in tackling the increasing KFD cases in Sattari taluka.
The AAP members also sought an explanation for the delay in procuring vaccinations to stop further spread of the disease, which has already claimed two lives so far.
But before the two ministers could respond to the agitated AAP members, the BJP workers present in the hall quickly jumped to their rescue and accused the AAP of indulging in politics ahead of elections in the State.
The KFD issue was quickly forgotten and the topic quickly turned into the 2017 elections.
“When you (AAP) cannot even get one councillor elected, how will you get your MLAs elected in Goa? In the next election, the BJP will win with 26 seats,” thundered a BJP worker.
Unfazed by their taunts, an AAP member hit back: “The BJP couldn't do anything in the last four years. What can you (BJP) do in this remaining one year's time?”
D'Souza then intervened in the heated debate by stating that the State government had ordered for 2,000 vaccines last year.
“But only 500 vaccines were used and remaining 1,500 vaccines were wasted as there was no response from the people. Since there is only one company manufacturing the vaccinations in Karnataka, it takes a long time for testing and manufacturing process. Hence, we have had to wait for some time,” D'Souza informed.
AAP leaders Vishwesh Parob and Valmiki Naik later convened a press conference and informed the media that they would demand the resignation of health minister for failing to resolve the issue.
“The health minister has failed not only to tackle KFD issue, but has failed to provide more manpower and better facilities, including 22 staff and ambulance, at the CHC Valpoi. This has been the situation even though the new hospital was inaugurated in 2014,” said Naik.
“This is pure politics and the government is trying to reduce the number of KFD cases to shirk its responsibility in the matter,” Naik added.
