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Journalism of Courage
Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday shot off a letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee,pledging all assistance that the state may require in tackling the aftermath of the devastating fire at AMRI. A National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF) team was also sent to Kolkata.
Sources said the Union Health Ministry is treading softly for fear of irking the fiery Chief Minister,who also holds the health portfolio in the state.
Health Secretary P K Pradhan said there was no need to send an inquiry team to Kolkata. He said,We will seek a report on Saturday but that is a routine thing because this is a case of a fire by short circuit and not a health hazard per se. We will send a team if they ask for support but as of now they are doing alright. We will provide any assistance that they require. What should we send an inquiry team for?
Most other senior officials refused to talk citing day-long meetings and political sensitivity of the matter.
Sources said the Centre is deliberately adopting a supportive and not accusatory stand so as not to precipitate a political crisis. Sending an inquiry team,given the heavy casualties,would have been an option,sources said. But the ministry appeared to be against sounding overly interested.
The Centre is keen to avoid appearing like it is meddling in a state subject,specially in a state ruled by an ally. It has kept on mind its recent skirmishes with Mamata on FDI and petrol prices. We are carefully avoiding questions like how and why,and sticking instead to the what what next, a senior official said.
The only central minister to give a byte on television on Friday was MoS (Health) Sudip Bandopadhyay,who visited the hospital and made accusations against the Left Front dispensation.
