Puri Medical College Inauguration: Credit War Intensifies Between BJP, BJD

 A political slugfest has now erupted over the scheduled inauguration of the medical college in Puri with BJP on Sunday accusing the ruling BJD of trying to take credit.

While Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is scheduled to dedicate the Shree Jagannath Medical College and Hospital in Puri tomorrow (April 11), BJP is of the view that Patnaik should have been made a courtesy call to the Prime Minister.

In a tweet, BJP National spokesperson Sambit Patra said that the Odisha Chief Minister should have made a courtesy call to the Prime Minister for inauguration of the medical college.

“Without getting into the ‘credit war’, the Odisha Chief Minister should have made a courtesy call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the Medical College in Puri,” tweeted Patra.

Patra further wrote that this would have only added to PM Modi's mantra, “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Vikas & Sabka Prayas.”

I humbly believe that without getting into the “Credit War” the Honourable CM Odisha should have made a courtesy call to the Honourable PM to inaugurate the Medical College in Puri.
This would have only added to the Mantra “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Vikas & Sabka Prayas”! https://t.co/3Fde7OkWIK

— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) April 10, 2022

 

Patra also shared a letter of the Health Ministry written to the States in January this year in which the Health Secretary had highlighted the centrally sponsored scheme, 'Establishment of New Medical Colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals'.

Since these colleges are approved under centrally sponsored scheme, the Ministry had asked States to inform about the public programme for their foundation stone laying / inauguration by respective State governments. Under the scheme, 157 medical colleges have been approved across the country in three phases- 58 in phase-1, 24 in phase-II and 75 in phase III by the Centre.

The letter had categorically mentioned, “The convenience of Union Health Minister be sought for finalising a foundation laying/inauguration function in respect of these medical colleges, with joint participation of dignitaries of concerned State government/UT and the Government of India.”

Responding to the allegations of Patra, senior BJD leader Debi Prasad Mishra said, “Who will come and what will happen depends on availability and State government will take the decision on it. BJD never believes or indulges in credit politics.”

According to Mishra, the ruling BJD has not done anything as part of any strategy to take credit.