Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala Health Minister K Muraleedharan on Monday alleged that the criticism against him by BJP and CPI(M) leaders over the restricting free food packet distribution facilities at the Alappuzha Medical College was driven by vested interests linked to private diagnostic laboratories.

Recently, Muraleedharan announced plans to start a community kitchen rather than have voluntary organisations distribute food packets (pothichoru) by displaying their banners and flags at the medical college, a move that drew criticism from CPI(M) and BJP leaders.

Rejecting allegations that the government had banned the distribution of food packets at hospitals, Muraleedharan clarified that the decision was confined to the Alappuzha Medical College and was aimed at removing encroachment on government land that was affecting the institution's functioning.

He alleged that Seva Bharati volunteers had objected when workers went to carry out work for the critical care unit, claiming the space as their own and demanding an alternative location before allowing the work to proceed.

"This is government property. It does not belong to any individual or organisation. That is why such a decision was taken in Alappuzha," he told reporters.

Muraleedharan alleged that the controversy had little to do with food distribution and was instead linked to the government's move to stop referring patients to private laboratories.

He claimed that despite the availability of laboratory facilities at the medical college, patients were being issued prescriptions directing them to two nearby private laboratories because reagents required for conducting tests at the hospital had not been procured.

Without naming anyone, he alleged that the laboratories were making lakhs of rupees in profits and that the government's decision to procure reagents and ensure tests were conducted at the hospital itself had unsettled those with vested interests.

"A strict instruction has been given that tests should no longer be sent outside. We have a laboratory there and tests should be conducted there itself," he said.

Asked whether the private laboratories were linked to any political party, Muraleedharan declined to name anyone but urged them to check who controlled them and the profits they earned.

The minister alleged that both the BJP and CPI(M) had adopted the same stand on the issue because of their alleged interests.

"That is why I said K Surendran and Pinarayi Vijayan are speaking the same language. More facts will come out. That is why they are attacking us," he alleged.

Referring to criticism that branded him as an "annam mudakki" (one who stops food distribution), the minister said the action was not against food distribution but against encroachment of government land.

"There is no restriction on serving food. But if someone encroaches on land, erects huge banners and claims that nobody else can function there, that will not be allowed," he said.

Muraleedharan clarified that no decision had been taken to implement similar measures in other government hospitals.

"A complaint was received in Alappuzha and action was taken. If complaints are received elsewhere, we will examine them. Since no such complaints have been received, there is no reason to discuss other hospitals now," he said.

The minister said the decision was taken by the Hospital Development Society (HDS) of Alappuzha Medical College during a review meeting attended by the local MLA, MP and the Deputy Speaker, and not by him personally.

He said members of the HDS, constituted during the previous LDF government's tenure and comprising representatives of different political parties, had unanimously supported the decision to establish a community kitchen and remove encroachments from the hospital premises.

On criticism over displaying political leaders' photographs and banners inside hospitals, the minister said naming institutions after former chief ministers and national leaders was entirely different from putting up banners that obstructed hospital premises.

Drawing a comparison, Muraleedharan recalled that White Guard volunteers had prepared and served food to everyone, including journalists, during the Chooralmala landslide tragedy but were later forced to leave the site and their food supplies were thrown away.

"Where were all these people then," he asked.

The minister also rejected allegations that he had taken a U-turn after the issue snowballed into a political controversy.

"There has been no U-turn. The decision was only regarding Alappuzha. It was the media that turned it into a statewide issue. Even then, I had said any decision regarding other hospitals would be taken only after discussions with the chief minister," he said.

Asked about food distribution under political banners at hospitals in Kottayam and Thiruvananthapuram, Muraleedharan said action would be taken only if there were complaints of encroachment or obstruction to hospital functioning.

Muraleedharan reiterated that the proposed community kitchen at Alappuzha Medical College would be launched soon, while similar facilities at other hospitals would be considered only if required.