The political barometer is rising in the Kosi region over the RJD MP Pappu Yadav’s diktat to the doctors and diagnostic centres to lower their fees.

The supporters of Pappu alias Rajesh Ranjan have been burning the effigies of medicos at Madhepura, Saharsa and Supaul districts alleging non-adherence to the fee chart issued by him. Some political parties, on the other hand, have joined hands to oppose the Madhepura MP’s diktat to doctors and diagnostic centres.

The raging controversy has not only galvanised some political parties, including BJP, LJP and CPI, rather they have joined hands to take on the MP. Former MLA Kishor Kumar has announced a massive demonstration in a couple of days to denounce the MP’s “unauthorised conduct”.

In contrast, Pappu supporters have been decrying non-adherence (by the doctors and diagnostic centres) to the MP’s appeal “to be sensitive and sympathetic towards the poor people by realising reasonable fees”. They lashed out at some political leaders, including former and existing MLAs, who opposed the MP’s move to “cure the healthcare system” in the Kosi belt.

Stung by the complaints lodged against him by the state unit of Indian Medical Association, Health Services Association, Bihar, and the opposition from the political parties on his home turf to his move, the RJD MP asserted in Madhepura that being an elected public representative he was constitutionally obliged to fight against highhandedness and irregularity, if any. He claimed that he was within his rights to interfere and oversee any work being carried out in the interest of the people on account of being the chairman of the district vigilance committee.

The MP appealed to the chief minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad to extend whole hog support to his fight for poor people. He clarified that his fight was not against all doctors but against those minting money and accumulating wealth.