Kodikunnil Suresh demands Health Minister Veena George’s resignation over amoebic meningoencephalitis deaths

Citing the Health department’s “failure to handle the rising cases” of amoebic meningoencephalitis in the State, Kodikunnil Suresh, MP, has demanded that Health Minister Veena George take responsibility and resign.

Mr. Suresh said on Wednesday that several deaths had occurred in different parts of the State in recent weeks due to amoebic meningoencephalitis. He alleged that the collapse of the health system and the State government’s negligence in providing clean drinking water and managing waste had led to the loss of lives.

Mr. Suresh pointed out that the government had failed to take even basic precautions required for the protection of public health.

“The Health department has neither issued timely warnings nor coordinated preventive activities against the disease and responded only after cases had increased. The lack of adequate testing and treatment facilities in medical college hospitals and district hospitals showed the failure of the Health Minister,” the Mavelikara MP said.

Sabarimala gold scam

Mr. Suresh further said that revelations related to the gold theft at Sabarimala had deeply hurt the devotees. He said the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) holds direct responsibility in this matter and, therefore, demanded the immediate dismissal of the current board.

“The theft at Sabarimala was not an ordinary incident and it was caused by corruption within the board and political interference. TDB president P.S. Prasanth and the board members cannot absolve themselves of responsibility in this matter,” Mr. Suresh said.

The MP said that the government’s stance so far had been entirely defensive and an attempt to cover up the incident. “It is imperative to take strict legal action against those who have betrayed the faith of the devotees and to subject the entire TDB to investigation. The board, which operates using the devotees’ offerings, has become a hub of corruption and political patronage and that this administration is no longer fit to continue even for a moment,” he added.