Eknath Khadse threatens to go on hunger strike

Nashik: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Eknath Khadse has threatened to go on a hunger strike in a week to highlight the “medical problems of people living in various tehsils of Jalgaon.” Mr Khadse, in a statement on Saturday, said that in the absence of doctors in the tehsil-run hospitals, people were left with no medical treatment and hence he would be going on the protest within eight days.

Referring to the absence of doctors, Mr Khadse said that, the posts of ‘medical officer’ in Bhusaval, Bodvad, Muktainagar and Varangaon were vacant and there was also a paucity of medical facilities, which was inconveniencing patients. Patients have to be taken to hospitals that are about 80 to 90km away from their homes because medical facilities that should be available at tehsil level are not available nearby.

The number of accident-related deaths is on the rise due to unavailability of medical facilities, and new mothers have a harrowing experience, he said. “I have told the health director, deputy director and even the health minister but no action has been taken so far. If this is the case, put up boards of ‘seva bandh’ (no services),” he said angrily and added that, he had met the health director and deputy director several times and told them to get the posts filled up.

Mr Khadse asserted that his hunger strike was not against the government but to solve citizens’ issues. He added that he would be sending his letter of a hunger strike to the health minister soon.

“Union minister Nitin Gadkari has stated that alternate roads belonged to Jalgaon Municipal Corporation and not to the Highways Authority of India. Hence Rs 100 crore sanctioned for the roads had been returned,” Mr Khadse.