Sterilisation deaths unfortunate, says Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh

JAMSHEDPUR: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh today described the death of 13 tribal women in botched sterilization surgeries in his state as 'unfortunate' and said the state government has taken necessary action against the erring officials in this connection.

"It was an unfortunate incident and the state government has terminated services of erring doctors and others responsible for the incident," Singh, who was here to campaign for BJP candidate Saryu Rai from Jamshedpur West constituency, told newsmen.

"We have also ordered a judicial probe into the incident," he said.

Of the 83 women who underwent sterilisation surgeries at a government-organised family planning camp in Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh on November 8, 13 died after they developed post-operative complications.

Asked about the BJP's poll prospects in Jharkhand, he said the mineral-rich state has enough potential to march ahead of Chhattisgarh but failed to do it due to lack of leadership and political instability.

Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand were born simultaneously in the year 2000 but Chhattisgarh prospered and Jharkhand lagged behind, he regretted.

While Jharkhand was governed by nine chief ministers and President's rule three times during the last 14 years, Chhattisgarh had two chief ministers during the period, he said.

Asking the people of Jharkhand to vote for a clear cut majority government headed by BJP, Singh said Jharkhand can progress better than Chhattisgarh owing to its richness in terms of its mineral-deposit and potentiality.

Later, Singh echoed a similar view while addressing an election meeting at Sonari here.