West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's surprise visit to a state-run hospital in Kolkata on Thursday led to a sharp exchange with its head who was later suspended for objecting to the presence of the media which followed her in.
State-run Bangur Institute of Neurology Director S P Gorai was suspended on the charge of non-cooperation and indecent behaviour, state secretariat sources said.
During the visit of Banerjee, who also holds the health portfolio, Gorai had a sharp exchange and objected to the media in the building.
Pointing to the crowd which included mediapersons, Gorai said "If everybody comes into the hospital like this, it creates problems."
Banerjee retorted "No one has called the media. Are you facing difficulties because we have come? What is your problem?"
She curtly asked Gorai to meet her at the secretariat on Friday, but he replied that he would be unable to do so as he had some operations to perform.
Banerjee then instructed Gorai to meet her after the the operations and left the hospital.
Secretariat sources said Gorai did not attend a meeting of all principals and superintendents of state-run medical colleges and hospitals summoned by the Chief Minister in the evening.
"Garai was suspended for non-cooperation and indecent behaviour with the chief minister when she visited the institute to see the state of affairs there," the sources said.
Earlier, Banerjee, while driving to the office at the Writer' Buildings, suddenly headed for the hospital. A crowd soon gathered and some hospital officials accompanied Banerjee as she went around the premises taking note of the work that needed to be done by the PWD and other agencies at the hospital.
