Gorakhpur tragedy: 'Conspiracy' part of BJP's 'imaginative process', says Congress

Hitting back at Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Faggan Singh Kulaste for hinting that there could be a "conspiracy" behind the deaths of multitudes of children in Gorakhpur's Baba Raghav Das Medical College's hospital, the Congress Party on Monday said that conspiracy is a part of their "imaginative process".

Speaking to ANI, Congress leader Tom Vadakkan said it is a complete administrative failure at their end and if he (Kulaste) thinks that there is a conspiracy then a Supreme Court monitored enquiry would be ideal.

"Conspiracy is a part of their imaginative process. When the fault is at their end, they want to blame everybody else. Including the mosquitoes will be blamed for conspiracy with the opposition parties. But if he thinks that there is a conspiracy than a SC monitored enquiry would be ideal. A CBI enquiry monitored by the SC. It is completely an administrative failure," he said.

He also criticised Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh by calling them "inexperienced".

Samajwadi Party leader Sunil Yadav said that nothing can be worse that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) not agreeing to the fact that they are responsible for it.

"I believe that this is the worst tragedy that could happen. And the BJP is still not agreeing to the fact that they are responsible for it. It is very saddening that they are not serious about it," he said.

Contrary to this, BJP spokesperson GVL Narsimha Rao said that the opposition parties should take moral responsibility for having allowed the UP's health care system to remain what it is.

"The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh have responded very quickly to the tragedy and the political parties like SP, BSP and he Congress which also have to take a moral responsibility for having allowed the UP's health care system to remain what it is... Any death of an infant or a child is a human tragedy," he said.

Further slamming the opposition and critics for politicising the issue, Rao said the sensitivity of the state government and the Chief Minister is evident from his action and his visit and his promise to take stringent action against people who are found to negligent in this manner.

"So rather than politicising this event, political parties must allow the state government to conduct inquiry and punish whoever is responsible for this negligence," he added.

Kulaste on Sunday hinted that there could be a conspiracy behind this tragedy.

"There may be a conspiracy behind this incident. It can be clearly observed from the comparison of the figures of children's death before 9th and after that. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed a probe into this matter and it is his responsibility today. The reason behind the Gorakhpur incident needs to be studied vividly. It will take time to improve the condition of the healthcare sector in Uttar Pradesh," he told ANI.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said that he was tremendously affected by the death of over 70 children, while reiterating that a probe will be instigated and the guilty will be severely punished.

Stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is deeply concerned and has offered complete support, Adityanath said that nobody can be more sensitive than him in the regard.

"Nobody can be more sensitive towards those children than me. Prime Minister is very concerned and he assured complete assistance from the Centre. Prime Minister has also sent Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda to take cognizance of the situation," said Adityanath.