Baby deaths a conspiracy against Mamata government: minister

As the death of eight newborn babies in a Malda hospital today once again brought the state health department under spotlight, the newly-appointed health minister alleged a conspiracy had been hatched against the Mamata Banerjee government to harass her. ‘‘There have been concerted attempts and a conspiracy too to harass the Mamata Banerjee government and the health department in particular is the target,’’ minister of state for health Chandrima Bhattacharya told a TV channel. Bhattacharya, who took oath as health minister on Monday, said she had sought information about the deaths in the Malda Sadar Hospital. [caption id=“attachment_186770” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Chandrima Bhattacharya, the new MoS health took oath to her office early this week. PTI”] [/caption] ‘‘I will inform the chief minister whenever I receive the information,’’ she said. Saying the chief minister was not scared of any ‘machinations’ from any quarter, she claimed, “Due to her promptness, the child theft case in a state-run hospital was resolved in a short time.’’ The chief minister has come under severe criticism for holding on to the health portfolio, even after baby deaths due to negligence and poor state of affairs were highlighted by media after TMC came to power in the state. PTI