While the political tussle between the ruling coalition and the YSRCP over the establishment of private medical colleges continues, the recent allegations made by the Health Minister and BJP leader Satya Kumar that former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had committed massive corruption in the establishment of private medical colleges are putting the Chandrababu Naidu government in self-defense.
In the past, when they were in the opposition, TDP leaders had even gone to the courts alleging that Jagan had committed massive corruption in the area of power contracts, from SECI contracts. But after coming to power, they are continuing those `irregularities’ with impunity. Hardly any action was initiated against the previous regime.
The Chandrababu Naidu government, which is trying to hand over the medical colleges started during the tenure of Jagan Mohan Reddy to private parties under the PPP model, is facing challenges from the YSRCP in this regard. On the other hand, the government has been in self-defense as Jagan Mohan Reddy himself has launched an agitation protesting against the attempts to privatize medical colleges.
Moreover, Jagan also dismissed the claims that the government does not have funds for the construction of new medical colleges.He said that NABARD has already sanctioned loans for them. Meanwhile, the sensational allegations made by Health Minister Satya Kumar in a recent media conference are likely to put the government in even more trouble.
He alleged that the then CM Jagan Mohan Reddy was involved in massive corruption in the construction of medical colleges sanctioned during Jagan’s tenure. He said that commissions of Rs. 100 crore were taken from contractors for a single college.
According to the National Medical Commission (NMC) rules, it is estimated that it will cost Rs. 320 crore to build a 420-bed hospital, but the previous Jagan government increased the construction cost of these colleges to Rs. 500 to 600 crore and gave administrative approval. The minister alleged that Jagan is making a big fuss about the medical colleges, saying that if these works are handed over to others, the affairs of these commissions will be exposed.
And when there is such clear evidence of corruption in the construction of medical colleges, the debate is now coming to the fore as to why they just held a press meet and left it at that without taking any action.
And will the colleges being given under the PPP scheme also be given according to the calculations given by Satya Kumar? Or will they stick to the estimates approved by Jagan? It remains to be seen. Apart from that, will the coalition government be more generous and increase the rates? It will not be clear in the coming days.
