Cong slams Rawat govt over ‘blood price hike’

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 21

State Congress president and Chakarata MLA Pritam Singh has  criticised the BJP government for increasing the price of blood in the state describing it an anti-people step. Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Urban Development Minister and official spokeperson Madan Kaushik denied that the state government had increased the prices of blood. 

In a statement issued here today, Singh said there was no point in increasing the price of blood as it was directly linked to healthcare of the people. He said the rise in blood price would affect the poorer and middle class, who will now have to pay more to get this necessary requirement.

 “A person who is ill and wants blood for survival will now have to pay more. Rising blood price is totally an anti-people decision of the state government,” Singh asserted. Seeking an immediate rollback of the blood price hike, Singh said the Congress would oppose this hike tooth and nail. 

However, the state government spokesperson   Kaushik today said the government had not taken any decision on the issue. Already, private hospitals in Dehradun have hiked the rates of blood from Rs 400 (one unit) to Rs 1,000 (one unit) which is being opposed by the public.