Ahmedabad, (Gujarat) [India], December 11: The Congress party staged a massive protest today, demanding the reopening of Ahmedabad’s iconic Vadilal Sarabhai (VS) Hospital after its renovation. Party workers and leaders took to the streets carrying roses and placards with slogans like “Get Well Soon” and “Save VS Hospital.” Their primary aim was to ensure the 90-year-old hospital resumes its services for the poor and needy after its renewal.
Congress leaders accused the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of deliberately shutting down the hospital and replacing it with the SVP Hospital, which they claimed operates like a private entity. They argued that VS Hospital was once a boon for the underprivileged, but BJP’s policies have led to its closure.
Budget Allocated but No Progress
Congress alleged that despite the allocation of crores of rupees for the hospital’s renovation every year, no significant work has been done in the past four years. Shehzad Khan Pathan, AMC’s Leader of Opposition, stated, “Over ₹720 crores have been allocated in the last four years, yet no concrete steps have been taken for the hospital’s restoration.” According to the party, only 200 beds and a few departments have seen maintenance, while the rest of the facility remains untouched.
Neglect of the Poor, BJP Policies Under Scrutiny
Congress MLA Imran Khedawala accused the BJP government and AMC of being anti-poor. He remarked, “Since BJP came to power, institutions like VS Hospital have been neglected. This hospital was a reliable center for the poor and middle-class, but BJP has closed it under its privatization agenda.”
The party also highlighted that the hospital’s closure has not only impacted the underprivileged but also removed a critical component of public healthcare. Congress demanded immediate action from the BJP government to renovate and reopen the hospital with super-specialty services.
Political Allegations and Privatization Accusations
Congress leaders claimed that BJP deliberately shut down VS Hospital to promote SVP Hospital and other private healthcare facilities. They alleged that BJP is destroying public hospitals meant for the common people to favor private entities.
During the protest, Congress workers demanded the hospital’s renovation under the banner of “Mohabbat Ki Dukaan,” symbolizing the hospital’s legacy of love and service that is now being ignored.
Will This Protest Challenge BJP?
Congress’s agitation to reopen VS Hospital has raised serious questions not just for BJP but also among the general public. If the demands are ignored, this issue could become a significant challenge for BJP in the coming times.
