Woman doctor slammed for propagating religion during COVID-19 campaign
A controversy has erupted after a woman doctor, hired on contract by the Madhya Pradesh government, was captured in a video purportedly asking people to offer prayers to the god of a particular religion for staying away from coronavirus infection or for recovery from the disease. The incident occurred in Bajna village of Ratlam district on Saturday.
Religious pamphlets were also found
On Sunday, tehsildar BS Thakur said the administration has received a complaint that the woman, a government contract doctor, was propagating Christianity during the "Kill Corona Campaign" (to curb the pandemic) in Bajna. Religious pamphlets were also found with the woman, he said. Thakur said that a report is being prepared, which will be submitted to senior officers.
The man shooting the video questioned her
In the video, the woman doctor, who is wearing a mask, is seen talking to a man who was shooting the incident on his mobile camera. The man is heard saying, "Why are you telling people that they will recover by praying to Jesus? Why are you not saying that people should pray according to their own religion?"
Woman can be seen defending her actions in the video
In response, the woman is heard saying that people are getting cured by offering prayers to Jesus. Some BJP leaders, including Bhopal Huzur seat MLA Rameshwar Sharma, shared the video on Twitter.
You can view the video here
Not the time to propagate religion: Sharma
"This is not the time to propagate any religion. Doctors and medical professionals are engaged in humanity's selfless service. In such a situation, the woman doctor is propagating a religion. This is condemnable," Sharma said. When asked about the episode, Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr. Prabhakar Nanaware said that a report is being sent to the district collector about this incident.
Services of the contract doctor might be terminated
In the report, termination of services of this contract doctor is being recommended, he said. Bajna police station in-charge Dilip Rajoriya said the case will be registered after investigation. So far, no case has been registered, he said.
