On June 29, in Mangaluru, Santosh Bajal, a CPI(M) District Committee member and DYFI leader, urged Karnataka’s Health Minister U.T. Khader to initiate the process of strengthening government hospitals in his own constituency. Bajal was speaking at a human chain and protest demonstration near Mudipu bus stand, which was organized by the CPI(M) Mudipu Zonal Committee. The protest demanded the cancellation of contract agreements between government hospitals and private hospitals, the construction of Ullal Taluk Hospital, and the overall development of government hospitals in Dakshina Kannada district.
Bajal pointed out that Ullal taluk lacks health centers and hospitals, which are mandatory according to the government’s medical act. He criticized the Health Minister’s recent statement, saying it was a publicity stunt. Bajal questioned the need to visit government hospitals at midnight when community hospitals in Ullal constituency close at 4:30 PM. Comrade Sukumar Tokkottu, a CPI(M) District Secretariat member, also spoke at the protest, expressing disappointment that the local MLA has failed to bring about significant changes in the constituency despite six years having passed since Ullal taluk was declared.
The protest was attended by several CPI(M) leaders, including Rafeeq Harekala, Razak Mudipu, Rizwan Harekala, Ashraf Harekala, Abubakkar Jalli, Ismail Harekala, Ramachandra Pajeeru, Sattar Kojapadi, Razak Montepadavu, Shafi Mudipu, Farooq Konaje, Siraj Aladka, and others. The protesters demanded improved healthcare facilities in the region, particularly in Ullal taluk.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: Vartha Bharati DK