Kolkata, May 20 (IANS) The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken action against four party leaders allegedly involved in the attack on a health officer at a health centre in Purulia district. Terming the incident as “shameful”, the accused leaders have been asked to explain the cause for their alleged anti-party activities, BJP leaders said on Wednesday.

The four BJP leaders have also been directed to refrain from party work for the time being.

On May 12, BJP leaders were accused of harassing the Block Medical Officer of Health (BMOH) of Pathardi Health Centre in Baghmundi block of Purulia district.

The incident triggered a political uproar. Allegedly, the leaders harassed the health officer by questioning why maternity patients from Baghmundi were being advised or instructed to shift to a hospital in another state.

After the results of the West Bengal Assembly elections were declared, the state BJP leadership took the incident seriously.

Finally, the party decided to issue showcause notices to the accused leaders. Rakesh Mahato has received the showcause letter.

He is a member of the Purulia Zilla Parishad and the convener of BJP’s Baghmundi block unit.

Showcause notices have also been issued to Baghmundi block co-convener Vijaymohan Singh, Mandal-4 president Arun Chandra Majhi and Yuva Morcha president Mithun Kumar.

In the letters issued to them, allegations have been made regarding intimidation of health officials, use of abusive language, physical harassment and obstruction of government work after the announcement of the Assembly election results, which the party termed anti-party activities.

On the recommendation of the BJP disciplinary committee and on the instructions of state president and Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya, the four leaders have been barred from participating in party work for the time being over the alleged anti-party activities.

They have been asked to explain their conduct within seven days.

Regarding the showcause notices issued to the leaders, BJP’s Purulia district president Shankar Mahato said, “The state leadership has taken a decision. I will not comment on this. It is purely a party matter.”

On the other hand, none of the four leaders who were served showcause notices agreed to comment on the matter.

However, Rakesh said that he had gone to speak to the health officer over the poor condition of the health centre. He admitted that heated arguments took place but denied any harassment.

–IANS

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