Kolkata: Just before the Assembly polls, the ruling Trinamool Congress faces a jolt as a PIL on public interest has been filed at Calcutta High Court against the Trinamool Congress’ health scheme ‘Swasthya Sathi’.
According to the petitioner there is a misappropriation of an amount of Rs 188.90 crore.
Demanding one CAG investigation, one of the petitioners Ajay Kumar Prasad claimed that the data provided by the TMC has several misappropriations.
“CAG investigation is needed to get the truth out. The data given in the official website of the state government on total money offered and number of patients it has already served is not matching,” claimed Prasad.
Another petitioner Ajay Manna said that investigation is needed as the amount of premium mentioned by the Trinamool Congress government between February to July 2020is also not matching.
The hearing of this case is scheduled on March 5.
Notably, ahead of the polls the Trinamool Congress and its supremo Mamata Banerjee had always highlighted this ‘Swasthya Sathi’ scheme against the BJP led Central Government’s ‘Ayushman Bharat’ to woo the voters. In the health scheme started by the Trinamool Congress health insurance upto rupees five lakhs is given to the card holders.
It is pertinent to mention that though the West Bengal Chief Minister had time-and-again claimed that the beneficiaries can get treatment in both private and government hospitals, but many-a-times the patients complained that despite showing the cards several hospitals refused to admit the patients.
However, TMC MP Saugata Roy claimed that it is a poll plank by the opposition political parties.
