JMM, BJP spar over RIMS Director resignation issue

Pioneer News Service
Ranchi

The resignation of Dr. Rajkumar, Director of Jharkhand’s largest government hospital—Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS)—has now taken a political turn. While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has leveled serious allegations against the State government, attributing the resignation to the working style of the government and the Health Department, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Congress have dismissed the opposition’s claims, stating that the resignation was Dr. Rajkumar’s personal decision.

Dr. Rajkumar’s resignation comes at a time when a CID investigation is underway regarding alleged irregularities in MBBS admissions and the awarding of sanitation tenders at RIMS. During the probe, the CID seized documents from the institute and questioned several officials. Following the resignation, the government has entrusted the responsibility of Acting Director to Dr. Deependra Kumar Sinha.

BJP spokesperson Ravinath Kishore stated that it should have been the Health Minister who resigned, not the RIMS Director. He alleged that Health Department officials were constantly pressuring and harassing the RIMS Director. The BJP claims that the CID investigation was merely a pretext, whereas the reality is that Dr. Rajkumar decided to step down due to departmental pressure and the government’s attitude.

Countering the BJP’s allegations, JMM central spokesperson Manoj Pandey stated that Dr. Rajkumar’s resignation was his personal decision. He clarified that the government did not pressure him to resign at any stage. He noted that investigating complaints against an institution or an official is a standard administrative procedure, and it is inappropriate to draw conclusions before the investigation concludes.

Pandey added that if Dr. Rajkumar felt he had done nothing wrong, he should have faced the investigation; any action would have been taken only after the probe was completed.

Rakesh Sinha, in-charge of the state Congress media department, also dismissed the BJP’s allegations. He stated that the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ (Grand Alliance) government operates on a zero-tolerance policy regarding corruption and irregularities. He emphasized that it is the government’s responsibility to investigate any complaint received against an official. If an official resigns voluntarily during an investigation, it cannot be termed as harassment by the government.

RIMS is Jharkhand’s largest government medical institution, where thousands of patients arrive daily for treatment. The resignation of its director, amidst an ongoing investigation, has raised several questions regarding the healthcare system. Experts believe that the extent of accountability for the alleged irregularities will only become clear once the investigation concludes. Meanwhile, political parties have begun presenting the issue to the public in their own respective ways.