Union Minister battles UP minister over NHRM funds

Lucknow: Some unsavoury moments were witnessed at inauguration of ‘Arogya mela’ here today, as a war of words broke out between Union Minister Santosh Chowdhury and UP Health Minister Ahmad Hasan over the issue of NHRM funds. [caption id=“attachment_1194481” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. AFP[/caption] The row erupted when the Union Minister of state for Health alleged that Uttar Pradesh government had not given an account of NHRM funds given to it, on which the UP Health Minister said that the state has given account of NHRM funds of past 19 months. “We have given account of funds given to the state in past 19 months. How can we give account of loot of funds in previous Mayawati regime,” Hasan said. “The matter of NRHM scam is being probed by CBI. We have given it the account… and are continuing to give the same… What is happening there (with CBI)…Centre has done a deal in this (matter),” Hasan said taking potshots at the Centre. Chowdhury also said that the word “Samajwadi” is being used on ambulances for advertising Samajwadi Party’s name. “The SP is doing its advertisement by writing ‘Samajwadi’ word on ambulances,” she said to which Hasan replied by saying that “Samajwadi likha hai Samajwadi party to nahi” (There is Samajwadi written on them (ambulances) not Samajwadi Party). Chowdhury also said that the state government is responsible for encephalitis deaths in eastern UP and alleged that the Centre was supporting the state but the same was not reciprocated from the state. Answering that, Hasan said that Centre is not supporting the state, as UP had demanded Rs 5,000 crore from Centre to strengthen health services but had got only Rs 1,500 crore. Later, Chowdhury said that she would return to the state next month and fulfil demands of the state. PTI