Former minister Sriramulu stages hunger strike condemning maternal deaths
Ballari: Strongly condemning the recent maternal deaths, former Health Minister and BJP leader B Sriramulu staged a hunger strike in front of the government hospital on Saturday, demanding immediate action from the state government.
“In Ballari alone, five maternity deaths have been reported in the past month. The Health Minister and Chief Minister should have visited and consoled the bereaved families. No minister has visited. The government must grant Rs 1 crore as compensation to the affected families,” Sriramulu told reporters.
The BJP leader alleged that over 100 maternity deaths have occurred across the state in the past eight months.
“It is the Health Minister's responsibility to visit and find a solution. Yesterday, he said he was ready to resign. We are not asking for his resignation. As the minister, he must take immediate measures to save lives. Everyone knows that the IV fluids used are the reason for these deaths,” he stated.
Sriramulu further criticized the Health Minister’s visit to Ballari on Saturday.
“His visit today is only because the legislative session is next week. He fears being questioned about his inaction,” Sriramulu alleged.
The BJP leader emphasized that his party has been addressing the issue from the beginning.
“Our senior leaders, including Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka, have visited the hospital and assessed the situation. Our demand is clear—there must be no more deaths, and the state government must ensure this,” he added.
