Left Front flays govt for handling of encephalitis

Left Front today criticised the ruling Trinamool Congress government for not being able to handle the spread of encephalitis which has claimed over 100 lives in north Bengal. "The government is not at all efficiently addressing the issue of tackling the spread of Japanese encephalitis," Left Front chairman Biman Bose told reporters here. He said the government was found wanting in handling the spread of the disease on a war footing which would have helped in saving many lives.

Leader of Opposition and CPI(M) MLA Surya Kant Mishra said the health minister of the state was not adept in running the department and called for her removal and replacement by an able person. He also criticised the manner in which senior health department officials were suspended by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after the outbreak of the disease.