Two days after launching the party in the Capital Region, Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan plunged into action by visiting the areas hit by gastroenteritis that had claimed more than 14 lives.
Giving an ultimatum to the government to control the outbreak of gastroenteritis within 48 hours or face a bandh, Mr. Kalyan said that death of 14 persons was a collective failure of the administration.
“Why has not the government declared a medical emergency in this city? They should have set up a committee headed by a senior IAS officer to investigate the issue,’’ said Mr. Kalyan.
Turning emotional, he said it was unfortunate that the political parties had been targeting him and even trying to take political mileage out of a tragedy that unfolded in Old Guntur.
“Do not think I will spare anyone who criticises me. I can reveal many things. It pains when people are dying, some parties try to take advantage,” Mr. Kalyan said.
Appealing to the government officers to stand by the people in the hour of crisis, he said each family had suffered an irreparable loss due to the death of their dear ones and the onus of taking care of them lay with the government.
Flays local officials
Continuing his tirade against the State government, he said the laxity of local administration was responsible for the spate of deaths in Old Guntur.
Mr. Kalyan told reporters at the house of Sk. Bibijan at Anandapet that the outbreak of gastroenteritis in parts of Old Guntur had reflected the sheer negligence of the local administration and termed the deaths as ‘institutional deaths’.
“The outbreak of GE has left 14 persons dead in Guntur, which is a stone’s throw from Amaravati. Who is responsible for the dance of death in Guntur? Is the Municipal Commissioner not responsible? Why didn’t the CM appoint an investigation committee led by a senior IAS officer?” he questioned.
Mr. Kalyan turned emotional as he interacted with the family members of Bibijan and promised assistance to them. “The State government is not keen on holding elections to the civic body. Elected representatives would have represented the problems faced by the people in the council. Instead of addressing the problems, the government is trying to cover them up by paying ex gratia to the victims,’’ he alleged.
Earlier, Mr. Kalyan visited the GGH where more than 100 persons are being treated.
