Karnataka Maternal Deaths: LoP Demands Judicial Probe, Calls for Health Minister’s Resignation
Amidst the woes of a Congress government in Karnataka about maternal deaths in the state, the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka.

Karnataka Maternal Deaths: Amidst the woes of a Congress government in Karnataka about maternal deaths in the state, the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka on Thursday demanded a judicial probe into the matter and also sought the resignation of Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao.
He accused the administration of "surrendering" to the drug mafia and, also expressing concern over the condition of government hospitals, claimed that these maternal deaths amount to what he calls "government-sponsored murder."
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The Leader of Opposition's remarks were made on the day that protests were launched in five districts everyday by state BJP's Mahila Morcha from Thursday demanding the resignation of Health Minister Gundu Rao and Minister for Women and Child Development Laxmi Hebbalkar, alleging that the two failed in taking steps against new mothers' deaths.
"After the Siddaramaiah-led government came to power in Karnataka, maternal deaths at government hospitals have increased, with most of them occurring in the 25-30 age group, and this trend continues," Ashoka told reporters here.
He further said that he had raised the same issue in the Assembly in the recent Belagavi legislature session and pointed to the government's faults with supporting documents, he said, "The government is directly responsible for maternal deaths. This is, in a way, government-sponsored murder. Substandard drugs were supplied, and it is clear that the government has bowed down to the drug mafia."
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"There should have been a judicial probe into the deaths. I have not received any information about the judicial probe yet. There should have been a criminal case against the company that supplied substandard drugs, but there is uncertainty about whether a case has been registered. There is no information regarding the death audit report," he said.
It is further mentioned that the government has given an assurance to take action and would ensure that incidents do not recur, Ashoka said, "But maternal deaths haven't stopped yet."
"This government boasts about enabling women by giving ₹2,000 every month to women heads of the family as part of its guarantee schemes," he said, urging CM Siddaramaiah to first stop maternal deaths at government-run hospitals. "The government should guarantee the lives of new mothers."
"The Minister responsible for all this must resign, and the Chief Minister must order a judicial probe," he said, adding, "We will also meet the government and won't stop our fight to get justice for the deceased women and their families."
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