By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Rishikesh, 1 Sep: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has described the violence against a health warrior on 9 August in a Kolkata hospital as extreme brutality and a disgrace to humanity. Addressing students and faculty at AIIMS Rishikesh, today, he stated that such cruel acts embarrass the entire civilisation and undermine India’s ideals.
Expressing regret over some people using the term ‘symptomatic aberration’ in reference to the incident, Dhankhar said such comments only exacerbate the pain and add salt to the wounded soul.
“When humanity is disgraced, certain voices raise concerns that only deepen our pain. To put it plainly, they are adding salt to our wounded soul. When such statements come from members of Parliament or senior lawyers, they are deeply flawed. There can be no excuse for such terrible thoughts. I call upon those in misunderstanding to reconsider and publicly apologise. This is not an opportunity to view things from a political perspective. This political perspective is dangerous; it destroys your objectivity,” he said.
Acknowledging his responsibility towards health professionals and women in the country, Dhankhar said, “I am here before you. As a constitutional figure, I must demonstrate my responsibility; I must affirm the position I hold as Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.”
“Such incidents wound our hearts, make our souls cry, and demand accountability,” he added.
Describing the work of health professionals as ‘selfless service’, similar to the service ordered by Lord Krishna without expectation, the Vice President condemned any form of violence against doctors.
Expressing concern for the safety of doctors, he stressed the need for a mechanism to ensure their complete protection.
“A doctor can only help to a certain extent. A doctor cannot transform into a deity. While a doctor is close to divinity, when a person dies, due to emotional and uncontrolled reactions, doctors do not receive the respect they deserve. The safety of doctors, nurses, compounders, and health warriors must be fully ensured,” he said.
Criticising the selective silence of some NGOs, Dhankhar added, “Some NGOs maintain silence on such incidents. We must question them. Their silence is worse than the culpability of the criminals involved in this heinous crime. Those playing political games and accumulating political points are not answering the call of their conscience.”
Emphasising the responsibility of society and the need for a mechanism to ensure the safety of women, the Vice President said, “What happened falls under the scope of accountability, but society is also responsible. Society cannot escape its responsibility. I do not want to make this a matter of government or political parties. This is a matter for society; it is a challenge to our existence. It has shaken the foundation of our existence. It has questioned the ideals of India that have endured for thousands of years.”
“This is not an opportunity to gather political points. This is non-partisan. It requires bipartisan efforts. All stakeholders must come together on a common platform,” he added.
Also present on this occasion were Dr Sudesh Dhankhar, Governor Lt General Gurmit Singh (Retd), and Director, AIIMS Rishikesh, Prof Meenu Singh, among others.
