Kolkata, July 1 (IANS) Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) central committee member and former MP Mohammed Salim Friday clarified that he and his doctor wife were living in a state-run hospital as the latter was a resident doctor there.

 
 Responding to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s veiled criticism, Salim deneid any wrongdoing and alleged it was part of efforts to malign him.
 
 "The purpose behind having a resident doctor in a hospital is his availability at all times specially during emergency cases. Many a time people complain of non-availability of doctors. When a doctor stays in a hospital his/her services can be sought any time,” said Salim.
 
 Salim and his wife Rosina Khatoon have been allotted residential accommodation, occupying half a floor, in the three-storied Chittaranjan Seva Sadan.
 
 Last week, Banerjee who visited the hospital, indirectly criticised Salim and his wife for occupying a large chunk of the hospital.
 
 “This is an effort to malign me and my family. The government is violating all political ethics and playing a dirty game,” Salim said.