Docs, health activists’ body slams Gujarat govt. for differentiating Covid patients on faith basis
The story was published on Muslimmirror.com click here to read their original post.
New Delhi: Condemning Ahmadabad government hospital’s segregation of coronavirus patients on the faith basis in the strongest possible terms, Progressive Medicos and Scientists Forum (PMSF), a pan-India body of prominent doctors and health activists, on Wednesday demanded unqualified apology from the Gujarat Chief Minister Gujarat Vijay Rupani and dismissal of his deputy and the state health minister. The doctors’ organization said by this discriminatory action the state BJP government has sent a clear message to the management, doctors and other hospitals to follow the suit which has dangerous consequences.
Even as India is still struggling with the fall out of the communalization of COVID outbreak at the Tabhlighi Jamaat gathering at Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi, today’s front page newspaper headlines announced another shocker – ‘Hospital in Ahmadabad splits COVID Wards on Faith, Says Govt. Decision.’ The Medical Superintendent of the Ahmadabad Civil Hospital, Dr Gunvant H Rathod told that the hospital has created separate wards for the Hindu and the Muslim COVID-19 patients on the orders of the Gujarat state government.
Reacting on this shocking news, PMSF national president, Dr Harjit Singh Bhatti said at a time when the entire world is fighting an epic battle against the biggest health emergency, the ruling classes of the India have stooped down to the level of differentiating between patients on the basis of religion.
“It fills us with sheer disgust and a sense of insoluble hurt to our humanity to note that the ruling classes of the India have stooped down to the level of differentiating between patients on the basis of religion, and that too at a time when the entire world is fighting an epic battle against the biggest health emergency that has encompassed the entire world in over a century.”
By having allowed differentiation between the patients on the basis of faith, Gujarat’s BJP government has sent a clear message to the management, doctors and other staff of the Ahmadabad Civil Hospital, as also those of other hospitals, at least in the state, to follow suit, Dr Bhatti told while speaking with Muslim Mirror.
This is bound to have serious consequences for the wellbeing of the patients irrespective of their religion, and will undermine the confidence of vast sections of the society in public health institutions, he added.
Meanwhile, the state Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister, Nitin Patel denied any knowledge of existence of such an order and promised to enquiry into the matter.
Even though, the Health Minister promised to enquire into the matter, the very fact that such a thing could happen without his knowledge (presuming his claim to that effect to be true) speaks volumes about the state of governance under BJP state government, said Dr Vikas Bajpai, Executive member and Press Secretary of PMSF.
If indeed this act had been committed without the Minister’s knowledge, he should have forthrightly apologized for such an unpardonable act by the officers of this department, and should have given an undertaking to take strictest possible action against the culprits, Dr Bajpai added.
Both the activists warned that it is a very dangerous move that have serious consequences on the country healthcare.
“If their past record is anything to go by, then in all likelihood, the Sangh Parivar is actually testing the waters for putting into effect something far more sinister.”
The fight against COVID-19 pandemic of necessity entails the cooperation of every section, every individual of the society to restrain the transmission of the virus, but for the short sighted communal forces who presently occupy positions of power, even a health emergency of the kind the world is presently facing is but an opportunity to milk communal dividend for ensuring their grip on power, they added.
While the corona virus certainly does not discriminate between its victims on the basis of religion, the religious bigots certainly do.
“The Progressive Medicos and Scientists Forum also called upon doctors and other health care professionals not to meekly submit to the conspiracies of the government and the communal establishment and they should rather expose any such attempt irrespective of the powers that be”.
Failure to do so would only lead to health workers becoming the chief recipient of the people’s ire against the system, especially as the policies being pursued by the government to tackle the ongoing health emergency have already resulted in untold suffering to the people, Dr. Bajpai warned.
“We demand from the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Vijay Rupani to tender an unqualified apology for this policy measure taken by his government; dismiss his deputy and the state health minister, and meet out the strongest possible punishment to others who conspired in committing this act”, the doctors’ body said.
The story was published on Muslimmirror.com click here to read their original post.
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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
