Doctors Across India Observe 'Black Day' To Protest Against Ramdev's Modern Medicine Remarks
Taking a stand against a series of unfounded and false claims made by Yoga guru Baba Ramdev against modern medicine and doctors, the medical fraternity across the country is marking a 'black day' on Tuesday.
Led by the members of the Federation of Resident Doctors Associations (FORDA) doctors, India observed a black day seeking an open apology from him or action against him.
Delhi
In Delhi, resident doctors from Safdarjung Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Hospital, Hindu Rao Hospital, Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, B R Ambedkar Hospital took part in the protest.
"Many doctors are wearing black armbands or black ribbons to symbolise the protest," the FORDA official said.
While some doctors held placards bearing protest messages, others wearing PPE kit had "Black Day Protest" scribbled on the back of the medical gear.
Similar protests were held across various cities in India.
"Our protest began this morning against the remarks made by Ramdev, who is not qualified to even speak on the discipline of allopathy. It had affected the morale of doctors, who are fighting day in and day out in the (COVID-19) pandemic. We demand an unconditional public apology from him or action against him under the Epidemic Diseases Act," a senior FORDA official said.
What the controversy is all about?
Ramdev, one of the most popular Yoga practitioners in India and the founder of Patanjali an FMCG and Ayurvedic products brand had stroked a massive controversy recently after he made several unfounded claims about Covid-19, covid treatment, covid vaccines, doctors death, etc.
He was forced to withdraw a statement made in a viral video clip, in which he was heard questioning some of the medicines being used to treat the coronavirus infection and saying that "lakhs have died from taking allopathic medicines for COVID-19".
Ramdev, who in the past have claimed that if one applies mustard oil through their nostril, coronavirus would flow into one¡¯s stomach and would be killed by the acids present there has been accused of spreading misinformation about COVID-19 by doctors.
IMA appealed to PM to take action against Ramdev
Last week, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) had appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take appropriate action under sedition and other charges against Ramdev for allegedly "spearheading a misinformation campaign on COVID vaccination".
The IMA had sent a legal notice to yoga guru Baba Ramdev over his alleged statements against allopathy and "defaming" scientific medicine.
The IMA also alleges that Ramdev is deliberately maligning modern medicine to sell Coronil, an ayurvedic drug developed by Patanjali which claims to cure COVID-19.
Meanwhile, the Gujarat unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Ahmedabad Medical Association (AMA) have joined those seeking legal action against Ramdev.
They urged the police to lodge an FIR against Ramdev under relevant sections of the Epidemic Diseases Act and the Disaster Management Act (invoked in view of the COVID-19 pandemic).
