Hospital row deepens, Samiti to expand protest to nearby villages

The Hospital Banao Sangharsh Samiti, leading an indefinite dharna at Ramgarh-Bhagwanpur, has warned that it will oppose any move by the state government to set up the proposed 200-bed hospital at a site other than their village. The outfit also announced that its agitation will now spread to nearby villages supporting the demand.

“We too are eagerly waiting for the state government’s final decision regarding the hospital site. If the project is not allotted to Ramgarh-Bhagwanpur, not only will we oppose it, but we will also take the protest to the next level,” said Tej Singh Yadav, spokesperson of the Samiti.

The warning came after Health Minister Arti Singh Rao said on Monday that the hospital file was being prepared and details would be shared once a final decision was made. The remarks sparked sharp reactions from protesters.

Yadav said, “Our gram panchayat has already provided land for another government project with the understanding that this hospital would come up in our village. That commitment must be honoured.” He added that despite repeated efforts, no one in the government has addressed their concerns.

The Samiti has announced sit-in protests in supporting villages beginning September 20 at Meerpur, followed by Budani on September 21. Similar dharnas will continue in other villages until the demand is accepted, Yadav said.

Residents of Ramgarh-Bhagwanpur have already been staging an indefinite dharna for the past 93 days to press for the hospital.