The Director of the State-run Bangur Institute of Neurology, S. P. Gorai, was suspended on Thursday evening in the wake of an unscheduled visit there earlier in the day by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who is also in charge of the Health Department.
Mr. Gorai had complained about crowding in the institute's compounds during her unannounced visit there in the morning. Enthusiastic onlookers had rushed into the institute's premises. Some surged toward her as she got off her vehicle and had to be held back by her security staff as she made her way through the compounds. There was considerable excitement among a section of the staff too.
CM annoyed
The Chief Minister was annoyed at Mr. Gorai for his alleged non-cooperation while on her visit to the institute.
Questioning whether he was put into any difficulty because of her visit, Ms. Banerjee asked: “What is your problem?”
The Chief Minister visited the emergency ward and other departments of the institute and spoke to a section of the staff as well as patients, inquiring into their problems. She was there for a short while. Ms. Banerjee was on her way to Writers' Buildings, the State Secretariat, when she decided to drop by at the institute. This was her second visit to a State hospital after taking over as Chief Minister. She had made a similar unscheduled visit to SSKM hospital on Tuesday.
Later the Chief Minister held a meeting with the principals and superintendents of five State-run medical college and hospitals in the city.