BJD govt lacks vision for State's future generation: Rahul Gandhi

Talking to mediapersons at Sishu Bhavan in the city after his visit, Gandhi said, “The chief minister is not thinking about the future of the State and healthcare.”

"I found the doctors are working sincerely and there is no shortcoming on their part. However, what is lacking is the state government's focus on health care and educaton. The chief minister is indifferent towards these sectors and state's future," Gandhi said.

Describing children as the country's future, Gandhi said the chief minister is not bothered about the future of the state though there is no dearth of funds in Odisha which is endowed with rich mineral resources.

Observing that there should not be any difficulty in running Sishu Bhavan properly, he said the attitude of the state Government should change. "Odisha's tragedy is played out in this hospital," said Gandhi who spent around 30 minutes in the hospital and interacted with doctors.

Refuting allegations of politicising the infants deaths issue with his visit to the hospital, the Gandhi scion added, “There are two reasons for my visit. One is to eyewitness the situation at the Sishu Bhavan while the second one is put pressure on the State government to focus on healthcare.”

Narrating his experience inside Sishu Bhavan, the Gandhi scion said, "I saw the spirit .. future of Odisha inside the hospital where a child was lying on bed and the mother was crying. However, the child appeared disturbed not for his health condition but for his mother's plight. The child requested us to console the mother."

The mother and the child have every right to get better treatment and attention at the hospital so that they can return happily, said Gandhi.

OPCC president Prasad Harichandan and Opposition leader Narsingh Mishra were also present in the media briefing.

Later, the Congress vice president visited Swaraj Ashram in the city.