In a fiery session of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly’s budget discussions, Leader of Opposition Mata Prasad Pandey unleashed a barrage of criticism against the state government. He spotlighted the mounting debt burden exceeding Rs 9 lakh crore, a crumbling health infrastructure plagued by severe doctor shortages, and unchecked fee hikes by private schools.
Pandey didn’t hold back, questioning the government’s tall claims of economic prosperity. ‘The state boasts per capita income of Rs 1.20 lakh, but that’s just 53% of the national average. Why the hype?’ he retorted, drawing sharp attention to fiscal realities.
Turning to healthcare, he revealed stark figures: only 0.37 doctors per 1,000 people against WHO’s recommended one per thousand. ‘Patients are shuttled from one hospital to another, even referred out of medical colleges,’ he lamented, urging a rethink on contractual staffing in this life-critical sector.
With a light-hearted jab at Health Minister Brijesh Pathak, Pandey quipped, ‘I won’t make you run, but fix these issues.’ Laughter echoed through the house.
He demanded legislation to curb arbitrary fee increases in private institutions, taking a dig at Galgotias University’s recent robot fiasco labeled ‘Made in China’ at an AI summit. ‘They charge exorbitant fees and now hunt for their own dog,’ he joked, amusing Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the assembly.
Pandey also mourned the decline in higher education quality, once epitomized by Allahabad University, and called for urgent cleanup of the polluted Ganga. ‘Mother Ganga is weeping in filth,’ he said, pressing for concrete action.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar initially objected but later acknowledged the debt figures, setting the stage for heated debates ahead in the session.