Jaunpur (UP), Oct 7 (PTI): A controversy has erupted in Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur, where a Muslim woman alleged that a doctor at the district hospital refused to treat her due to her religion. However, hospital authorities have denied these accusations.
The Incident: Shama Parveen, a resident of Biribari village, went to the district women's hospital on the night of September 30 for delivery. Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) Dr. Mahendra Gupta confirmed that a woman doctor examined her during the night. On October 1, a video surfaced on social media allegedly showing Shama Parveen claiming that the on-duty doctor told her, "I will not treat a Muslim woman. I will not conduct your delivery," instructing the nurse to not take her to the operation theatre and advising her family to seek treatment elsewhere.
Hospital's Stand: Surprised by these allegations, Dr. Gupta sought an explanation from the doctor involved. The doctor denied making any religion-based remarks, and an inquiry was conducted with higher authorities being informed of the situation.
Legal Action: Meanwhile, police registered an FIR against two local journalists, Mayank Srivastava and Mohammad Usman, for allegedly circulating the video on social media. The CMS filed a complaint at the Kotwali police station, claiming the journalists forcibly entered the labour room, filmed videos, and caused damage to hospital property.
Political Reactions: The incident has led to sharp political reactions. Ragini Sonkar, a Samajwadi Party MLA from Machhlishahr, called the case "shameful," attributing it to the communal tension in the state. She criticized the government for filing cases against journalists instead of taking action against the doctor, suggesting she might raise the issue in the Assembly.
Congress leader Vikesh Upadhyay Vikki also condemned the incident, labeling it "extremely shameful" for a doctor to deny treatment based on religious grounds, emphasizing that patients should have no caste or religion in such situations. Vikki called for strict action.
Conversely, BJP spokesperson Avnish Tyagi dismissed opposition claims as baseless and accused them of attempting to fragment society. He maintained that public welfare schemes are provided to all sections without discrimination under the Yogi Adityanath-led government, citing the motto 'Sabka saath sabka vikas.'
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