Former CM and BJP senior leader Babulal Marandi and former BJP leader Saryu Roy on Thursday separately requested CM Hemant Soren not to let go of RIMS director Dr D.K.Singh till the Covid-19 crisis subsides.

Marandi asked how the health minister (Banna Gupta) recommended Singh be relieved without consulting the CM amid the pandemic.

“The director told the government about his selection as the executive director of AIIMS, Bhatinda, but also that he did not want to leave RIMS midway...he’s giving priority to state interest over his career. The health minister, instead of respecting his sentiments, recommended he be let go,” Marandi wrote.

The former CM pointedly asked for “proper control” over the minister “to ensure the state doesn’t waste energy in useless work...”

Roy wrote to Hemant that if Singh is let go now, it would appear that Jharkhand is not serious about battling the novel coronavirus.