Resident doctors of the All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi on Tuesday demanded the removal of Anant Kumar Hegde, who was inducted in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Cabinet, saying he has a history of physical violence against medical practitioners.
President of the Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) of AIIMS Harjit Bhatti said that the PM’s move to induct Mr. Hegde as Minister of State for Skill Development has sparked a sense of insecurity among doctors.
‘No feeling of security’
In a letter to the PM, Dr. Bhatti said that doctors had gained confidence after Mr. Modi had raised the issue of violence against medical practitioners from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15 and urged people to follow Mahatma Gandhi’s path and stop violence against doctors.
“But you have shattered the feeling of security. We doctors again feel insecure when you inducted a tainted Minister into your Cabinet who has a history of physical violence against doctors,” he wrote in the letter.
The doctors sought a thorough enquiry against Mr. Hedge, and alleged that he had assaulted doctors and staff in January at Sirsi hospital over an alleged delay in treatment. The assault was captured by CCTV cameras and a case was registered against Mr. Hegde.
‘Assaulter rewarded’
“We were expecting a fair enquiry and conviction, but he was rewarded and made a Minister. This step is definitely against the medical fraternity as it portrays that you reward an assaulter of doctors,” Dr. Bhatti wrote. He then went on to urge the PM to review his decision.
The AIIMS RDA, a body of around 1,500 doctors, also sought an apology from Mr. Hegde.