To press for action against Ramdev, doctors’ associations to observe ‘Black Day’ tomorrow
At least six doctors associations have decided to observe June 1 as a ‘Black Day’ in protest against Ramdev's alleged ‘illogical’ and ‘insensitive’ remarks on COVID19 warriors, allopathy drugs and modern medicine. The doctors association will observe ‘black day’ without hampering patient care.
Symbolic protest against Ramdev by doctors of AIIMS. Photo: @AIIMSRDA/twitter
After the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) announced a nationwide ‘black day’ protest tomorrow on June 1 against Ramdev, owner of Patanjali Ayurved, a multinational consumer packaged goods company, the doctors’ association of at least six hospitals and associations have called for protest against the yoga guru.
The doctors’ associations have demanded action against Ramdev under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, for his alleged remarks on allopathy and modern medicine.
Today in a press statement, the association of Diplomate of National Board Doctor (DNB), based in New Delhi announced to observe ‘Black Day’ on June 1 in solidarity with the fraternity of modern medicine to protest against ‘defamatory and unlawful statements’ of Ramdev.
“We urge the Government of India to take immediate action against perpetrators of such heinous and deplorable acts,” read the press statement by DNB association dated May 31.
As per news reports, the hospitals that are joining the protest tomorrow include Safdarjung Hospital, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, association of Delhi based association of Diplomate of National Board Doctor (DNB), Lady Hardinge hospital, Maulana Azad Medical College, Lok Nayak Hospital, Doctors Association Jammu and All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) Delhi.
Two days back on May 29, FORDA issued a press release stating “… we are being subjected to insensitive, inhuman and insulting statements from Mr Ram Kisan Yadav alias Ramdev Baba.”
The association also alleged that Ramdev had attempted to ‘derail the vaccination drive across the country as his statements have added on to vaccine hesitancy. Even after FORDA putting forward the voice against such obnoxious statements, no action has yet been taken against him … hence FORDA is compelled to declare that we shall hold a nationwide black day protest on 1st of June, 2021 without hampering patient care.’
FORDA has demanded an open public apology from Ramdev or sought action against the yoga guru under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.
On May 27, the Indian Medical Association’s (IMA) secretary general, Jayesh Lele, filed a police complaint against yoga guru and entrepreneur Ramdev for ‘committing offences’ under the Section 3 of the epidemic act.
What is the controversy?
For over a week, both the IMA and Ramdev have been involved in a public spat. The doctors’ association has alleged that the yoga guru has made derogatory comments about allopathy drugs.
Also Read: IMA vs Ramdev: What is the controversy all about?
On May 22, the IMA had written to Health Minister Harsh Vardhan pointing out how Ramdev had allegedly called allopathy a ‘stupid science’ and ‘disobeyed’ approved allopathy drugs. Even then the doctor’s association had demanded action under the Epidemics Act, 1897.
Also Read: ‘Enough is enough’: IMA demands action against Ramdev under the Epidemic Act
On May 23, the health ministry issued a letter to Ramdev directing him to retract his statements. The health minister called Ramdev’s remarks as ‘inappropriate’. After the health minister’s letter, Ramdev withdrew his statements on allopathic medicine.
On May 26, the matter reached Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi as the IMA wrote to him and appealed to take appropriate action against Ramdev under the charge of sedition on spreading misinformation on COVID19 vaccination. The yoga guru, alleged IMA, had said that 10,000 doctors had died in spite of taking both the doses of the vaccine.
On May 25, the Uttarakhand chapter of IMA warned that if Ramdev doesn’t tender a written apology within the next 15 days and posts a video countering the statements given by him, then a sum of Rs 1,000 crores will be demanded from him as defamation suit.
Complaint against IMA President
Meanwhile, on May 27, Legal Right Protection Forum, a legal-activism group, filed a complaint with the Union Home Ministry against JA Jayalal, the president of the IMA.
The Forum has sought revocation of the medical practitioner’s license of Jayalal accusing him of ‘splitting human beings into Christians and non-Christians.’
The legal-activism group, has written a detailed letter to the Centre demanding strict action against the IMA president. It has asked the central government to stop funds to IMA till removal of Jayalal from the president’s post.