The Hindu : Minister rules out probe into Governor's death

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 25, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Minister rules out probe into Governor's death

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, FEB. 23. The Health Minister, Kadavoor Sivadasan, has ruled out an inquiry into the allegation that the Governor, Sikander Bakht, did not get proper treatment in the Medical College Hospital here.

The Minister told reporters that the doctors had done their best to save the Governor. The circumstances did not warrant an inquiry, he said.

He said that the surgery on Sikander Bakht was conducted in the presence of experts. The allegation made by the BJP State president, P. S. Sreedharan Pillai, regarding the "lack of quality treatment" was baseless, he said.

Mr. Sivadasan said that he was present at the hospital before the surgery began and after it was over.

Our Special Correspondent writes from Kochi:

Earlier in the day, Mr. Sreedharan Pillai sought an investigation into the conditions that led to the demise of the Governor.

Mr. Pillai said that there was a rumour that the Governor had not received quality treatment and that he had caught an infection at the Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram. "If this is the fate of a Governor, I wonder what the common man's would be,'' Mr. Pillai said.

He noted that the medical college hospitals were understaffed and short of sufficient facilities. "Perhaps this is why the State Ministers go in for treatment at private hospitals,'' he remarked.

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