Patna: A war of words has erupted between Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav over the construction of a new AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) in Darbhanga, Bihar. This spat highlights the complexities and political maneuvering often associated with development projects.
The feud began when Health Minister Mandaviya took a dig at Tejashwi Yadav’s “politics of development” and challenged him to provide a suitable location for the new AIIMS. Mandaviya emphasized that the Modi government prioritizes the politics of development over mere political grandstanding.
In a swift retort, Tejashwi Yadav fired back, accusing the central government of engaging in an “invisible development” charade. He raised questions about the lack of a finalized site for the AIIMS despite claims of its inauguration by Prime Minister Modi. Yadav, who also oversees the health portfolio in the state, accused the central government of taking false credit and disregarding his correspondence.
The confrontation escalated as both sides presented their versions of the timeline. Mandaviya asserted that the Modi government had granted permission for AIIMS in 2020, with land provided by the Bihar government in November 2021. He accused Tejashwi Yadav of shifting the location for political gain, delaying the project’s progress.
मा० स्वास्थ्य मंत्री जी,
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) August 13, 2023
यह कौन से अदृश्य विकास की राजनीति है कि जहाँ स्वास्थ्य मंत्रालय ने AIIMS के लिए अभी तक स्थल फाइनल किया ही नहीं है और आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री जी कह रहे है वहाँ एम्स खोल दिया गया है?
जिस काल अवधि का आप वर्णन कर रहे है उस वक़्त से लेकर पूर्व के कई वर्षों तक… https://t.co/8T4cxlRM70
Yadav countered by pointing out that the state government had allocated 151 acres of land and undertaken substantial expenses for earth filling at a superior location. Despite this, the central government’s approval has remained elusive.
The rift intensified as Mandaviya produced a letter from the union government dated May 26, expressing concerns about the alternate site proposed by the Bihar government. This further fueled accusations and counter-accusations over the decision to change the site.
आज प्रधानमंत्री जी दरभंगा में AIIMS खुलवाने का झूठा श्रेय ले रहे थे। वस्तुस्थिति ये है कि #बिहार सरकार ने निःशुल्क 151 एकड़ ज़मीन केंद्र को इसकी स्थापना के लिए दिया है और साथ ही 250 करोड़ से अधिक मिट्टी भराई के लिए आवंटित किया लेकिन दुर्भाग्यवश राजनीति करते हुए केंद्र ने… pic.twitter.com/Pajur0PM0u
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) August 12, 2023
In a final retort, Tejashwi Yadav underscored the state’s efforts in constructing a state-of-the-art super-speciality hospital with a significant expenditure. He emphasized the historical significance of the medical college and hospital in Darbhanga.
The feud between the Union Health Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister underscores the complex interplay between development, politics, and accountability. As the political rhetoric continues, the fate of the AIIMS project and its potential impact on healthcare in Bihar remain at the forefront of public discourse.