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AAP slams Nadda's appointment as Health Minister

by IBNS 10 Nov 2014, 10:42 am

New Delhi, Nov 10 (IBNS): The newly inducted Union Health Minister JP Nadda found himself in the middle of controversy during the first day in his new office on Monday after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused him of indulging in corruption and playing a pivotal role in the removal of Sanjiv Chaturvedi, who was the former vigilance officer in AIIMS hospital, media reported.

According to media reports, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and other party leaders has accused Nadda of hiding corruption prevalent at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). 

Kejriwal is learnt to have accused Nadda of influencing Dr. Harsh Vardhan, the then union health minister and got Sanjiv Chaturvedi removed from the post of Central Vigilance Officer (CVO) at AIIMS, after the latter reportedly uncovered a string of corruption cases at the hospital.

It was learnt that Chaturvedi reported gross mismanagement and deep-rooted corruption in the country's premier health institution, which ranged from illegal foreign trips by doctors on the expense of hospital to illicit medicine selling.

"Instead of asking for an explanation for the removal of an honest officer who exposed corruption, they have rewarded Nadda," media quoted AAP chief as saying. 

AAP chief has reportedly added, Nadda at that time was trying to protect a corrupt officer, who belonged to his home state, Himachal Pradesh. 

"Induction of Sh. Nadda into union cabinet is unfortunate. Modi govt rewarding those who harass honest officers," said an AAP tweet.

"Instead of meeting pre-election promise of providing corruption free govt, Nadda's elevation screams govt will protect corrupt," the party said on micro-blogging site.

It may be recalled, while removing Chaturvedi from the post of AIIMS CVO, Harsh Vardhan said that the officer was wrongly assigned the post at AIIMS in the first place. 

Harsh Vardhan also clarified that Chaturvedi was not eligible as the Central Vigilance Commission had not signed off on the appointment.

Sanjiv Chaturvedi also later demanded that the CBI determine the reasons for his removal.