Kozhikode: Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala on Monday repeated his criticism of the health department's failure in taking effective measures to prevent communicable diseases, especially dengue fever. He also said the government’s pretension on the war against corruption had ended now with the sidelining of Jacob Thomas. “All praise that the chief minister showered on Mr Thomas has now turned out to be false. He has been named the director of Institute of Management in Government (IMG). This is now clipping the wings of the parrot (referring to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s earlier reference on the same issue) and keeping him in the corner,” he told a press conference.
He said the health authorities had failed in coordinating with the other departments including the local self-governments'. “The strike of the nurses in the private hospitals would worsen the situation. In the Beach Hospital, the bystanders are also infected with fever. The minister is saying in Tamil Nadu, 100 people died, and in Kerala, only 115. Death is a matter of concern, irrespective of the numbers,” he said. “There is a health emergency in the state. The government should distribute free ration in Koorachundu.”
He also criticised the laxity in considering the GST bill, saying the bill with 173 sections should be taken seriously. Though he demanded a discussion on the resistance of the local community against the IOC plant in Puthuvype, he declined to comment on the controversial action of DCP Yatish Chandra, as someone whom he worked along with earlier. On the birthday of AICC vice-president, a cake was cut. Taking part in the green campaign of the Kozhikode DCC, he planted a new sapling on the premises of its office.
