GSVM principal admits mistake, says sorry

KANPUR: As the Uttar Pradesh government sought a report from the Kanpur district magistrate over a controversial video of GSVM Medical College principal Arti Lalchandani, she issued a letter of apology, as well as a video, admitting her mistake.

Lalchandani, with the convenor of All India Sunni Ulema Council Haji Mohammad Salees by her side, in her video said she was sorry for hurting the sentiments of Muslims, at large.

“Muslims are so close to my heart, I have been serving for the last 38 years as a doctor. I am sorry for the mistake and it will not happen again,” she said in the apology letter and video released on Tuesday morning.

Lalchandani was in the eye of a storm after a video was leaked on Sunday in which allegedly she is seen calling members of Tablighi Jamaat as terrorists. She went a step ahead and said they deserved to be thrown in jail and tortured and not given treatment.

The state government later sought a report from Kanpur district magistrate Dr Brahmdev Ram Tiwari after a number of people filed complaints against the principal. “The state government has asked for a comprehensive report on the issue. We will get it properly inquired and sent at the earliest,” said Tiwari. SP MLA Ifran Solanki, a lawyer Mohammad Nasiruddin Khan, and few others had submitted complaints against Lalchandani. They demanded an FIR and her arrest for driving a wedge between the communities.

Solanki met the district magistrate on the issue and Khan gave a complaint to the DIG/SSP Kanpur Anant Deo. Khan said if an FIR was not lodged on his complaint, he would move the court and seek registration of an FIR.