Rahul Gandhi: Gorakhpur is a ‘govt-made tragedy’

Lucknow: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who was on a day-long visit to Gorakhpur, said on Saturday that the deaths of children in BRD Medical College were a “government-made tragedy”.

“All the families I met said that their children died after the oxygen supply stopped. They said they were given ambu-bags by the hospital staff but this could not save their children,” he said.

Deaths of nine more children were reported from the BRD Medical College between Thursday and Friday, taking the toll to 105 since the August 10 tragedy.

Mr Gandhi asked the state government not to attempt a cover up but to take strict action against those responsible for the tragedy.

Mr Gandhi met the families of children who had lost their lives, allegedly due to shortage of oxygen supply in the BRD hospital on August 10 and 11.

Mr Gandhi, accompanied by AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad and UPCC president Raj Babbar, visited several villages, heard the bereaved families patiently and assured his support. He promised to help the families in whatever way they wanted.

Reacting to Mr Gandhi’s visit and the Congress’ sustained campaign against his government on this issue, chief minister Yogi Adityanath said that the Congress vice-president and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav were treating Gorakhpur like a “picnic spot”.

“Lucknow mein baitha shehzada aur Delhi mein baitha yuvraj is swachch abhiyaan ke mahatwa ko nahi jaan payega. Gorakhpur unke liye picnic spot hai aur iski ijazat hamey nahi deni chahiye,” (The prince sitting in Lucknow and the one in Delhi do not understand the importance of cleanliness. We cannot allow them to turn Gorakhpur into a picnic spot), he said.

The chief minister was speaking at the launch of “Swachh UP, Swasthya UP” campaign in Andhiyari Bagh, Gorakhpur, on Saturday.

He further said, “If someone gives an open challenge to the self-respect of the people of Gorakhpur and eastern UP, they will themselves come forward to fight such dreaded diseases through their awareness of hygiene”.  

He asked the people of Gorakhpur and eastern UP to tackle the deadly encephalitis outbreak by ensuring cleanliness.

Talking to reporters as he wrapped up his visit, Mr Gandhi said that he had come here to share the pain of families who had lost their children.

Thanking the media for raising the issue, he said that this was a national tragedy that should not be brushed under the carpet.

“The Prime Minister talks of New India but we do not want a New India where children die without oxygen. We want a New India where children can return to their homes form hospitals after getting fully recovered”, he said.

Talking to reporters, Mr Azad said, “In spite of being five-time MP from Gorakhpur, Yogi Adityanath has done nothing for the hospital”.

UPCC president Raj Babbar said that Mr Gandhi’s visit to Gorakhpur had unnerved the chief minister, and that’s why he was now making uncalled for statements.