Sen hits back at Raman govt

Rights activist Binayak Sen on Wednesday criticised the Chhattisgarh government for questioning his inclusion as a member of the Planning Commission’s Steering Committee on the health sector. He said the Raman Singh government was well aware about his credentials as a campaigner for improving the state’s healthcare system and his competence in doing so was unquestionable.

Sen has been nominated as a member of the Planning Commission’s Steering Committee on the Health sector for the 12th Plan period. Upset on his nomination,the Chhattisgarh CM had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last month,saying Sen’s contribution to health sector is “hugely exaggerated”. He said Sen has been convicted of waging war against the state for colluding with Naxals and his nomination is “shocking”.

Trashing the state’s criticism,Sen told The Indian Express,“I don’t know why they are saying this. I am sure that they are aware about my medical credentials and my decades-old association with Chhattisgarh’s healthcare system. My efforts to ensure healthcare rights span over 30 years.”