Bhujbal denies dissent in NCP

MUMBAI, APRIL 18: The deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who had opposed the formation of a jumbo Cabinet when the Democratic Front Go...

MUMBAI, APRIL 18: The deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who had opposed the formation of a jumbo Cabinet when the Democratic Front Government was sworn in, today changed his stand to say that he was not opposed to the expansion of the Vilasrao Deshmukh Government. He however, denied that NCP was breaking up and that party MLAs were on verge of defecting to other parties.

Addressing a press meet today, Bhujbal said an atmosphere of suspicion had been created by newspaper reports about NCP MLAs holding parleys with Opposition parties. He said the NCP was united and that no MLA or minister had ever made any overtures towards other parties. He said there was discontent among some party MLAs but it was over developmental works in their constituencies and it was being sorted out by the Government.

He further said he had opposed the jumbo sized Cabinet of Deshmukh when the new Government came to power, because the Congress had not kept its word of sharing power equally. He said the Congress had sworn in more ministers than mutually decided and if the NCP were to fall in line, the Cabinet would have about 65 members. He said in view of the possible oversized Cabinet, which was not advisable considering the financial crunch faced by the State Government, he had played a crucial role in reducing the size of the Cabinet from 61 to 55 members.

He pointed out that on the party level, there were differences with the Congress but on the Government level there were no differences at all as the understanding was to keep the Sena-BJP alliance out of power. He pointed out that some NCP leaders were critical about Congress president Sonia Gandhi but that did not effect functioning of the Government. He also said a co-ordination committee had been formed to promote better understanding and functioning of the Government.

Bhujbal said that some changes, including the induction of some ministers or removal of some, was on the cards, which would be brought about soon. He added the appointments of chairpersons and members of State run corporations would be announced immediately after conclusion of the current session of the State Legislature.

Without naming Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, he said some people were deliberately planting stories in newspapers to created confusion and suspicion in NCP8217;s rank and file. He also said that Sudhakar Naik8217;s statement reported recently in newspapers was his personal opinion and that he had assured NCP8217;s state unit chief Babanrao Pachpute that despite his personal views he Naik would abide by any decision taken by the party.

A statement issued by Pachpute who had accompanied Bhujbal along with other NCP MLAs claimed the NCP had embarked on a massive membership drive over the past one and a half months and had enrolled about five lakh active members and 50 lakh primary members in Maharashtra. The NCP8217;s first national convention has been planned at Nagpur on June 10.

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PVT HOSPITALS TO TREAT POOR PATIENTS: Public health minister Digvijay Khanvilkar today said that the DF Government in the State had worked out a plan in collaboration with 11 private hospitals like Jaslok, Nanavati and Breach Candy to treat poor patients at a subsidised cost.

Replying to a discussion on the budgetary demands of the Health Department in the Legislative Assembly, Khanvilkar said the Government would form a committee to recommend names of poor patients for surgeries in these hospitals and pay Rs 50,000 per patient. Expenditure above Rs 50,000 would be borne by the concerned hospital, he said, pointing out that about five poor patients would be able to get operated in such hospitals each month.

He further said that a new policy on centralised purchase of drugs on the lines of the practice in Tamil Nadu would be announced by June to weed out irregularities. He said the Government, while purchasing any new medical equipment would make it compulsory for the supplier to maintain the machines as in the past expensive equipment lay unused after purchase.

He said GT hospital would be privatised and the Government would have its board of directors to control it. He further said the Government would spend Rs 117 crore to improve health facilities in rural areas.

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However, when former health minister Dr Daulatrao Aher pointed out that under the Bombay Charitable Trust Act, such hospitals were required by law to treat 10 per cent patients free of charge, the minister said that the matter was subjudiced and after much persuasion he had convinced the hospitals to conduct surgeries for poor patient.

Minister for food and drugs Vasant Chavan, replying to a discussion on budgetary demands of his department announced that a survey would be carried out in three months in rural areas to ensure that no person died of snake bites. He further said that to eliminate the duplicate drug market in Mumbai, the Government would reconstitute the Bombay Drugs Inquiry Committee, which was formed by the previous Government but did not submit its report. He said drug inspectors would be given targets to inspect drug shops and a special squad for surprise checks would be formed.

SONIA TO VISIT SANGLI ON APRIL 22: Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Govindra Adik today announced that party president Sonia Gandhi would visit Sangli for a rally to be held on April 22.

Speaking at a press meet, he said it was a part of the party8217;s programme to hold regional rallies, like the one held in Nagpur recently.