Demands for Kerala Health Minister Veena George’s resignation surge after a woman died in the Kottayam Medical College toilet collapse. CPI-M refuses to remove her, sparking statewide protests by the opposition and health workers. Calls for a judicial probe and criminal charges intensify amid public outrage.
The demand for the resignation of Kerala’s Health Minister Veena George has intensified following the tragic collapse of a toilet block at the Kottayam Medical College hospital, which claimed the life of a woman. Despite growing outrage from political parties, protestors, and health workers, the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) has ruled out any possibility of George stepping down.
The incident occurred on Thursday morning when a structure housing the hospital’s toilet facilities collapsed unexpectedly. While Health Minister Veena George and Cooperation Minister V.N. Vasavan initially told the media that there were no casualties and only two people had sustained injuries, it later emerged that a 56-year-old woman named Bindhu had died, trapped under the debris.
Bindhu had accompanied her daughter for treatment and had gone to use the toilet when the structure came crashing down. Her body was recovered only after George’s initial statement, which many saw as an attempt to downplay the seriousness of the incident.
The fallout was immediate. Opposition parties including the Congress and the BJP, as well as aggrieved Asha workers, launched statewide protests demanding George’s resignation. Clashes between protestors and police were reported in several locations, prompting law enforcement to use water cannons and physical force to disperse crowds.
Despite the intensifying protests, the CPI-M’s top leadership, in their weekly meeting on Friday, stood firmly behind Health Minister George. Party state secretary M.V. Govindan accused the opposition and sections of the media of attempting to malign the government.
“There is a concerted attempt to tarnish the image of the government. There was no delay in the rescue operation after the collapse. The media, in collaboration with the private sector, is trying to discredit the public health sector,” Govindan stated.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan broke his silence on the issue on Friday, expressing deep sorrow over the incident. He assured that the state would provide full support to Bindhu’s grieving family and has ordered a detailed inquiry to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The opposition, however, remains unsatisfied. The Congress has demanded a judicial probe into the incident, emphasizing the need for accountability. BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar went a step further, calling for criminal charges to be filed against both Health Minister Veena George and V.N. Vasavan.
As Bindhu’s body was laid to rest near her home in Kottayam, a large crowd gathered to pay their respects. Senior Congress leaders were in attendance, offering condolences to the bereaved family. Minister Vasavan also visited the family, while George reportedly called Bindhu’s husband, assuring him of a personal visit soon.
Speaking to the media, Bindhu’s husband expressed cautious hope after the Chief Minister’s intervention. “Now that the Chief Minister has spoken, we trust his words. Veena George called and promised to visit us in a day or two,” he said.
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The incident has not only reignited debates about infrastructure safety in public health institutions but has also raised serious questions about the government’s communication and crisis management. With mounting pressure from all corners, the political storm surrounding Veena George is far from over, though the CPI-M appears resolute in shielding her from resignation.
As the public watches closely, the opposition is likely to keep the pressure on until more concrete action is taken or accountability is clearly established.
