As expected, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, himself under mounting pressure of criticism from all quarters over many issues, the most compelling being the SUM Hospital fire tragedy resulting in the death of as many as 25 patients, sacked his Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak on Friday.
Minister Nayak was the target of public outcry for his alleged softness towards the SUM Hospital due to a conflict of interest as his wife Bandana Khuntia is a Botany teacher at the ITER also owned by the hospital proprietor Manoj Nayak.
Though the Chief Minister said that the Health Minister resigned on “moral grounds”, it was apparent that he had to ask for his resignation in view of the gravity of the situation against the Government.
Finance Minister Pradeep Amat was allotted the Health Department as additional portfolio. Forest Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh was given the additional charge of the Department of Information and Public Relations earlier also held by Nayak.
“Mr Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak has sent his letter of resignation to me. He has sent it on moral grounds. I have accepted this and sent the letter to the Governor,” Patnaik told mediapersons.
Nayak had been in the eye of storm ever since 70 infants died at the Sishu Bhawan in Cuttack in August last year following which Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi visited the hospital and blasted the Naveen Patnaik Government for the death of kids.
Then came the shocking incident of Dana Majhi carrying his wife's body on his shoulders after being denied ambulance by Kalahandi DHH which brought shame to the Government globally. The ongoing continuous death of children due to Japanese Encephalitis in Malkangiri district where over 60 kids were killed in the disease also exposed the inefficiency of the Minister.