File Photo: Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot
Swine Flu cases are on the rise across the country. There have been over 100 cases in Rajasthan alone. It has now become a serious cause of concern for the government in the state. Its latest victim, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, has hit out at the Vasundhara Raje government.
Ashok Gehlot tested positive for swine flu on Sunday. He has been down with high fever since Friday, after he returned from campaigning for the Congress in the upcoming Delhi elections.
He has been advised complete bed rest, and is being kept in isolation.
The former chief minister tweeted about testing positive for swine flu, writing, "Mujhe bhi swine flu positive aaya hai, lekin maine samay par ilaaj shuru kar liya hai, ab improvement hai." (I have been tested positive for swine flu, but I have started my treatment on time. Now my condition has improved.)
He followed it up with an official press note in which he has accused the BJP government in Rajasthan of not launching a campaign to increase awareness about swine flu, which, he said, has resulted in many deaths in the state.
He has also asked the government why they were announcing that swine flu tests are free of charge, when the previous government had already done so in 2009.
In a reply to Mr Gehlot, the health department spokesperson clarified that the BJP government has made swine flu tests free for everybody. Earlier (in 2009) it was free only for senior citizens, pregnant women, and children under the age of 5.
Since the first week of January, Rajasthan has reported over 100 cases of swine flu, including 39 deaths, which makes it the state with the highest number of casualties for swine flu in the country.