The Shiv Sena on May 7 came out in support of the Goa health departments project providing free hearse van service at the government-run Goa Medical College and Hospital and slammed the Congress MLA who opposed it.

Sena vice-president Rakhi Prabhudesai Naik, in a statement, congratulated Health Minister Vishwajit Rane for launching the project and termed it as a "pro-poor" step. She said only Goan staff should operate this free service. The introduction of free hearse van service at the GMCH at Bambolim near here had invited criticism from Congress MLA Francis Silveira, who backed private operators of ambulance service at the state-run medical facility.

Silveira had opposed the free service, claiming it would eat into the business of existing private ambulance operators at the hospital. Naik criticised the Congress legislator for opposing the project and dubbed him "anti-poor". She said Silveira is playing vote-bank politics. "The Shiv Senacondemns Silveiras vote-bank politics by resorting tounwarranted agitation against governments action of introducing the free hearse can service at the GMCH," Naik said.

She said the free service would go a long way in helping relatives of the deceased persons, who were forced to shell out thousands of rupees to get the body and transport it back home from the GMCH. "It is high time politicians like Silveira stopped working against the interest of Goa and the poor people living in the state.

"The Congress, during its rule, could not do anything to improve the standard of living of people. Now they should at least stop creating hurdles in schemes that provide solace to the economically-weaker sections," she added. "We appeal to the government to ensure that only Goans are give employment on this free hearse van service," Naik added.