Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur   

CPI(M) activists obstruct Raghuveera’s convoy

ANANTAPUR: The activists and leaders of Communist Party of India (Marxist) protested in front of the convoy of Minister for Agriculture N. Raghuveera Reddy here on Monday opposing the issuance of G.O. 118 meant for according semi-autonomous status to the Government Medical College here. It was beginning of the privatisation of the college and its attached hospital in a phased manner, they alleged.

They obstructed the vehicle of the Minister outside the police parade grounds here, where the Minister was coming to attend the valedictory meeting of Praja Patham. However, the Minister did not come out of his vehicle and the police prevented the CPI (M) from gheraoing the Minister. After a bout of jostling between the activists and the police and the obstruction to the convoy for about half an hour the police arrested about 60 activists.

Speaking later, town secretary of the party V. Rambhupal stated that the GMC was achieved after a prolonged struggle and with the donations from philanthropists. It was unfortunate that the government was planning to privatise it in the name of semi-autonomous status to begin with. People expected quality health services with better equipment and doctors in the hospital attached to the college but the government move would ruin all such hopes.

A struggle was carried out against the proposal of according semi-autonomous status four months back and Mr. Raghuveera Reddy had also participated in the talks between government, doctors’ association and people’s organisations against the partial privatisation. The Minister and MP A. Venkatarami Reddy had then announced withdrawal of the GO, he reminded.

The government was showing its true colours now by issuing the G.O. 118 sanctioning the posts of Director and Executive Registrar as part of according the semi-autonomous status, he alleged. A committee would take over the administration of the college and the hospital in the new arrangement and it would be free to hike fee, collect user charges and appoint staff on its terms. The Minister had first handed over Gudibanda PHC to a voluntary organisation last year and the medical college and general hospital were being driven that way now. A. Manohar, G. Veeranna, V. Savithri, Rasool, Ranjith, Rammohar and Mushkin were also among those arrested.

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