Yogi, Mayawati target Priyanka over infant deaths in Rajasthan's Kota

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and BSP chief Mayawati on Thursday targeted the Congress over infant deaths at a Rajasthan hospital, saying party leaders Priyanka Gandhi should have gone there to console the children's mothers instead of "playing politics" in UP.

Both appeared to refer to Gandhi's visit to the state after violent protests over the amended citizenship law.

Other BJP leaders have also attacked the Congress-led government in Rajasthan over the 100 deaths in December at JK Lon hospital in Kota.

In a tweet on Thursday chief minister Ashok Gehlot said the deaths should not be politicised.

The Centre too has decided to send a high-level team comprising experts from AIIMS, Jodhpur, and health economists to Kota.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said the Centre was ready ready to provide any technical help or assistance.

"Let us ensure no child succumbs to preventable causes or due to lack of health system capacity," Vardhan wrote to Gehlot.

Earlier attacking Priyanka and Congress president Sonia Gandhi Gandhi, the UP chief minister said it was extremely sad that despite being women both could not feel the pain of the mothers.

In a series of tweets in Hindi, Adityanath said, "The death of 100 innocent children is extremely saddening and heart-wrenching. The death of children is a blot on a civilised society, human values and feelings."
Slamming Gehlot, the UP CM said, "The indifference, insensitivity and irresponsible behaviour of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his silence makes the mind all the more sad."
In another tweet, the BSP leader said, "The death of 100 children in Rajasthan's Kota district is very sad and painful. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his government are still insensitive, disinterested and irresponsible, which is highly condemnable."