Probe into belly dance at Meerut hospital

MEERUT/GORAKHPUR: A state-run medical college in Meerut was in the eye of the storm when Russian belly dancers were allegedly called to perform at its alumni function on Monday, prompting the Uttar Pradesh medical and technical education minister Ashutosh Tandon on Tuesday to order a probe.

Tandon, who described the incident as “unfortunate”, set up a committee led by the director general medical education to look into the matter.

“The incident of Russian dance in (the) Meerut hospital is extremely unfortunate. I have asked the probe committee to submit its report in three days, after which the future course of action will be decided,” Tandon said on the sidelines of a function in Gorakhpur.

A video showing Russian artistes performing a belly dance at the party and an ambulance allegedly being used to carry liquor bottles was circulated on social media.

The announcement of the probe came even as the organising committee of the golden jubilee function of the 1967 batch at the Lala Lakota Rai Medical College in Meerut claimed there was nothing objectionable about the belly dance.

Dr Parvez, who headed the 35-member organising committee, said, “Belly dance is a form of dance and its (belly dance) expert, Russian dancer Ela, was invited to perform in the function.”

“There was nothing objectionable as the doctors watched the dance with their families,” he said. He, however, refuted the allegation that liquor was transported in an ambulance. Dr Parvez explained that empty cartons and some gifts, not liquor, were transported in an ambulance.

Doctors of the 1992 batch of the medical college organised the function for the 1967 batch on Monday. Speaking to HT, Dr Parvez claimed that the college had been organising alumni meets for the last 35 years.

The committee clarified that the function was held on the lawns and had nothing to do with the hospital.

Permission was obtained by the college and the administration, Dr Parvez said.

A VIDEO SHOWING AN AMBULANCE ALLEGEDLY CARRYING LIQUOR WAS CIRCULATED ON SOCIAL MEDIA WHICH ALSO PROMPTED THE PROBE