Dehradun, January 8: The decision to hand over Haridwar Medical College to private hands under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model has sparked a political storm in Uttarakhand. Senior Congress leader and state vice president, Suryakant Dhasmana, strongly criticized the move, accusing the BJP-led state government of either being paralyzed by incompetence or indulging in corruption.
Addressing the media, Dhasmana expressed his outrage, stating that the medical college, built with thousands of crores of taxpayers' money, should remain under public control to ensure affordable healthcare for all. "If the state government cannot manage healthcare facilities in its most developed district, how can it ensure basic health services in the remote and mountainous regions of Uttarakhand?" he questioned.
He further accused the government of neglecting its core responsibilities of education, health, and public welfare. Highlighting the recent Almoda bus accident, which resulted in over three dozen fatalities, Dhasmana pointed to the absence of adequate healthcare infrastructure as a glaring failure. "Victims couldn’t even get timely treatment at district hospitals or the Haldwani Medical College, forcing critically injured patients to travel to AIIMS Rishikesh, where two lives were lost due to delayed care," he remarked.
Dhasmana alleged that the move to privatize the Haridwar Medical College could be a result of underhanded dealings and corruption, calling it a betrayal of the public trust. He emphasized that Congress would oppose this decision at all levels, from public protests to legislative sessions.
The Congress leader demanded the immediate cancellation of the agreement with Sharda University, which is set to take over the medical college. "This is not just a matter of governance but a question of accountability to the people of Uttarakhand," he stated firmly.
Congress has vowed to intensify its opposition, with plans to mobilize public support and take the issue to the streets if necessary. Present at the press conference were state Congress president Karan Mahara’s political advisor Sardar Amarjeet Singh, general secretary Naveen Joshi, spokesperson Giriraj Kishore, and social media head Vishal Maurya.
As this issue unfolds, it raises larger questions about the role of privatization in public health and the government’s ability to manage critical infrastructure effectively. The coming days are likely to see intensified political battles as Congress gears up to challenge the ruling BJP on this controversial decision.
This article is based on a press release issued by the Indian National Congress. While GNN has adapted the content for journalistic clarity and neutrality, the information and views presented originate from the press release. For More info, CLICK HERE.
