The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi opposing the induction of Uttara Kannada MP Anant Kumar Hegde in the Union Ministry.
In the letter dated September 5, IMA national president K.K. Aggarwal has urged the PM to reconsider his decision as the MP had in January allegedly assaulted doctors, including Dr. Madhukeshwar Hegde, in a private hospital in Srisi over the alleged delay in treatment of his mother.
“Sirsi police did register a suo-motu case against Mr. Hegde on the basis of evidence from CCTV footage, but even today no evidences have been recorded or CC TV footage coverage put on FIR record. The FIR also did not have the name of all the three culprits. The Sirsi Association of Medical Consultants has also filed a complaint in the local court asking for a fair and free trial and requested the court to direct the police to record the evidences,” the letter said.
“Instead of taking any action against him or getting a fair enquiry done, he has been inducted into the Union Cabinet and rewarded instead,” Dr. Aggarwal said.
“The IMA, comprising over 3 lakh doctors, thought that after taking over as the minister, the MP will first apologise for his misdeeds to the medical profession. But there is no sign of that. Further giving him the Skill Development and Entrepreneurship portfolio has sent another wrong message to the society. Is indulging in violence and not apologising the ‘new skill’ to be taught to entrepreneurs,” the doctor asked in the letter.
“On one hand Suresh Prabhu has been shifted on grounds of moral responsibility for the train mishaps, but on the other hand a tainted man has been made a minister. By inducting ministers like Mr. Hegde, a wrong message has gone to the professionals especially the medical fraternity. We are disturbed by this and request you to take appropriately revise your decision and get the incident investigated,” the letter added.