A political controversy over Trinamool Congress national general secreatary Abhishek Banerjee’s Sebaashray healthcare initiative is set to dominate proceedings in the West Bengal Assembly on Saturday, as West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is scheduled to make a statement on the controversy.
The government’s response is likely to trigger a heated debate between the treasury and opposition benches over the politically significant healthcare programme, which has attracted widespread public attention in recent weeks.
The row over the Diamond Harbour MP’s free healthcare camps gathered further momentum after Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Debanshu Panda levelled fresh allegations of irregularities in the implementation of the programme.
Panda, who represents the Falta assembly also made sensational claims while explaining why a Sebaashray camp and its temporary infrastructure could not be opened in his constituency.
Panda alleged that several irregularities had taken place in connection with the medical outreach programme and questioned the manner in which the camps were being organised.
While elaborating on the developments in Falta, he raised additional allegations regarding the stalled camp, escalating the political confrontation over the initiative.
Earlier, a young girl’s family had claimed that the treatment advised to her through the Sebaashray programme ultimately resulted in the amputation of her right arm. The family also submitted a written complaint to the Superintendent of Police of Diamond Harbour Police District, seeking a detailed investigation and registration of an FIR against Abhishek Banerjee and several others involved in the camp.