BAMBOLIM: Social activists from various NGOs on Monday gathered outside Goa Medical College (GMC) and Hospital morgue demanding the resignation of Health Minister Vishwajit Rane and protesting the blunder that led to the body of Januz Gonsalves from Aldona being mistakenly released for cremation.
Activists also demanded an independent probe in the matter and alleged that there was an organ transplant mafia operating in GMC.
Addressing the media, activist, Rama Kankonkar said, “The State government has brought such a situation wherein people are not safe even after they die. GMC is a business run by both the Ranes. Today the entire staff in GMC is from Valpoi and are uneducated. Why should Goa suffer because of this constituency?”
He added, “We demand that all those people involved, including the Health Minister, should resign and then an investigation be conducted. Today one of the doctors did not answer us, that means an organ mafia exist.”
Kankonkar further alleged that there was an organ mafia operating in GMC and demanded that the government take action against it.
Activist Arturo D’Souza said, “We want the immediate resignation of Health Minister Vishwajit Rane as he has messed up the health issues in the State. He has messed up with the formalin issue and now this goof up wherein the body of Januz Gonsalves was disposed. However, now he is acting in a hurry to dispose the unclaimed bodies from the morgue without putting a proper system in place.”
“Rane has brought contractual labourers from outside and have dumped them in the morgue. They do not have any proper knowledge,” he added
Social activist Avertino Miranda stated that the manner in which the bodies were disposed seemed like something sinister is happening in GMC. “There has to be organ trade happening, otherwise why would they just dispose the body without the knowledge of the families?” he said.
Miranda also alleged that the people appointed to conduct the inquiry were involved in the goof-up and hoped that the High Court take suo motu notice and instructs a Court monitored inquiry.
A relative of the Gonsalves family, Benjamin D’Souza said, “We came to meet the Dean of GMC, Dr Prakash Naik who ran away. It was surprising that Goa being a highly educated State, people are not given jobs at GMC. I feel that an organ trade is taking place at GMC, otherwise how can ministers make money within four years?”
