Punjab minister ‘coerces’ senior health official to lie on dirty hospital bed; BJP, Cong tear into AAP govt

New Delhi: A major political controversy erupted in Punjab’s Faridkot Health Minister Chetan Singh Jouramajra coerced a senior health official of a city hospital to lie on the hospital bed. A video of the incident went viral soon after it landed on social media.

In the widely-circulated video, Punjab Health Minister could be seen reprimanding the medical college Vice-chancellor over torn & untidy condition of the mattresses in hospital. What kicked up a storm was the minister’s diktat and humiliating treatment of the V-C.

Raj Bahadur, the vice-chancellor of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) in Faridkot was directed by the Minister to lie on the patient’s bed. The incident happened on Friday when Jouramajra made a surprise visit to Faridkot hospital for an inspection.

#WATCH | Faridkot: Punjab Health Min Chetan Singh Jouramajra visited Guru Gobind Singh Medical hospital & took stock of infrastructure & arrangements. He also inspected mattresses being used for patients & made Vice-Chancellor lie down on the same upon seeing their poor condition pic.twitter.com/KVaxJ0oS2D

— ANI (@ANI) July 29, 2022

The V-C as well as senior surgeon is understood to have conveyed his deep disappointment over ignominious treatment and also offered his resignation to Punjab govt over the insolent treatment.

Bahadur, with an experience of 4 decades said , “I have expressed my anguish to the Chief Minister and said I felt humiliated.”

BJP, Cong tear into Punjab govt

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took stock of the incident and called out Punjab govt as well as Kejriwal for embarrassing the senior doctor.

“Embarrassing, cheap, uneducated & arrogant behaviour by an MLA shd be held accountable! Was this the “Inqlaab”
@ArvindKejriwal wanted to bring ?, asked BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa while tweeting the video.

Disgusting behaviour by Health Min of @AAPPunjab MLA Chetan Joremajra! He is humiliating Dr Raj Bahadur, VC of Baba Farid University. Embarrassing, cheap, uneducated & arrogant behaviour by an MLA shd be held accountable! Was this the “Inqlaab” @ArvindKejriwal wanted to bring ? pic.twitter.com/uQSNgEfebR

— Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) July 29, 2022

Another BJP leader Sunil Jhakhar also termed the incident as highly objectionable, shameful and unacceptable.
Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal said, “Rude behaviour with renowned spinal surgeon is not only outrageous but shameful misuse of position,” Congress’ Pawan Kumar Bansal tweeted.

The disdain & derision with which the veteran surgeon was treated also sparked anger on the social media as many took objection to alleged abuse of power.