Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar Condemns Violence Against Health Worker, Calls for Accountability and Protection

Rishikesh: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar today condemned the brutal attack on a health worker that took place on August 9th, calling it an act of “barbarity expressed in extremity” that shames humanity. Speaking at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rishikesh, the Vice President emphasized that such heinous acts tarnish the values that India, or Bharat, stands for.

Addressing students, faculty, and medical professionals, Shri Dhankhar expressed deep concern over comments made by certain public figures, including a Member of Parliament, who referred to the incident as a “symptomatic malaise” and a “frequent occurrence.” The Vice President rebuked these statements, asserting that they only exacerbate the pain and indignation felt by the nation. “When humanity has been shamed, there are some stray voices, voices that cause concern. They only aggravate our excruciating pain… This is not an occasion where you should be looking through a political prism. This political prism is a dangerous one, it kills your objectivity,” he stated.

Shri Dhankhar emphasized his accountability to the medical fraternity and the women of India, underscoring his responsibility as Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. He expressed profound sorrow over the incident, stating, “Our heart is injured, our conscience is crying, and our soul is seeking accountability.”

Drawing parallels to the teachings of Lord Krishna, the Vice President lauded the medical profession as “Nishkam Seva”—selfless service without expectation of reward. He strongly condemned any form of violence against healthcare workers, emphasizing the need for a robust mechanism to ensure their safety. “A doctor can help only to a limit. A doctor cannot convert himself to God. He is next to God,” Shri Dhankhar remarked, stressing that doctors and other healthcare professionals must be “impregnably protected.”

The Vice President also criticized the selective silence of certain non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that, according to him, have failed to speak out against the August 9th incident. He questioned their motives, saying, “Certain NGOs, on the road at the drop of an incident, are in silence mode. Their silence is much worse than the culpable act of the perpetrators of this heinous crime.”

Highlighting the collective responsibility of society to prevent such incidents, Shri Dhankhar urged for a non-partisan, unified approach to address the issue. “It is not an occasion to earn brownie points or score political mileage. This is non-partisan. It requires bi-partisan concerted efforts. There is a need for convergence of all stakeholders in democracy, to come together on one platform,” he said.

The event was attended by Lt. Gen. Gurmeet Singh, Governor of Uttarakhand, Prof. Meenu Singh, Executive Director of AIIMS Rishikesh, as well as students, hospital staff, and other dignitaries.