AAP MLAs protest at hospital over BJP MLA's assault on doctor

NEW DELHI: AAP MLAs staged a sit-in outside Acharya Bhikshu Hospital on Friday, accusing BJP MLA Harish Khurana of assaulting an intern doctor and alleging that the hospital administration is suppressing the case under political pressure. Led by Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj, the MLAs met Medical Superintendent (MS) Uma, who reportedly said she had “resolved” the matter and would not file an FIR.

Bharadwaj alleged the intern doctor was being threatened to withdraw her complaint. “They are being told their career will be ruined if they refuse. Despite a four-page complaint signed by 42 doctors, the MS has not forwarded it to police,” he said. He added that assault on a doctor is a non-bailable offense, and the MS has no authority to “settle” such a crime.

AAP Vice President Sanjeev Jha called the MS’s stance “highly condemnable,” accusing her of colluding with BJP to shield the MLA. AAP’s Doctor Cell head Dr. Nimmi Rastogi said: “BJP promised a law against violence on doctors, but now its own leaders are attacking them, and the system is covering it up.”

Under law, any attack on a doctor inside a hospital is a cognizable offense, and the MS must ensure an FIR within six hours. AAP warned that failure to act could trigger widespread protests among medical professionals.