PATNA: None of the three prominent figures of Bihar politics -- Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad and Sushil Kumar Modi -- has visited the PMCH, though 48 hours have passed since the October 3 stampede at Gandhi Maidan, in which 33 people lost their lives. The political observers are surprised over the trio’s absence.
Other leaders of the JDU, the RJD and the BJP have already called on the patients at the hospital.
Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who left for his village in Gaya district, just after Ravan Dahan, returned here after mid-night and went to the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH). Health Minister Ramdhani Singh came to the hospital 16 hours later and was heckled by the crowd waiting outside.
Lalu may be excused as he underwent a major heart surgery and might have been advised against visiting the hospital or the spot. But, former CM Nitish, like on Chhath stampede day, did not visit the PMCH, though he remained in touch with the officials till late in the night.
Sushil, who came under strong criticism after the Chhath tragedy of November 19, 2012, is yet to visit the hospital, though his party leader and Union Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who was in Patna, reached there.
LJP leader and Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, along with his MP son, Chirag Paswan, called on the injured on Sunday. Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also visited hospital and charged the state government’s failure to take lesson from earlier stampede.