Protesting against Ramdev, docs observe ‘Black Day’
Doctors say the yoga guru is not qualified to pass remarks on the discipline of allopathy
WHILE SOME doctors held up placards bearing protest messages, others wearing PPE kits had “Black Day Protest” scribbled on the back of the medical gear.
Upset over yoga guru Ramdev’s remarks on allopathy, resident doctors at several hospitals in Delhi protested as part of a nationwide stir on Tuesday and sought an unconditional public apology or action under the Epidemic Diseases Act.
Banded under the Federation of Resident Doctors Associations (FORDA), which had called for the protest on May 29 and stressed that healthcare services would not be hampered, the doctors wore black armbands, ribbons and held up placards.
“Our protest began on Tuesday 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.
FORDA India Tuesday even changed on its
Twitter profile picture to a dark poster that said ‘Black Day’. Many RDAs from outside Delhi put up posts on social media in solidarity with FORDA.
The RDAs which have joined the stir are from AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College and
Hospital, Hindu Rao Hospital, Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, B R Ambedkar Hospital and more will join later in the day, he said.
“Many doctors are wearing black armbands or black ribbons to symbolise the protest,” the FORDA official said, adding, “Doctors in other cities have also joining the stir.”
While some doctors held up placards bearing protest messages, others wearing PPE kits had “Black Day Protest” scribbled on the back of the medical gear.
In a statement issued on Saturday, FORDA India had said even after raising objections to the statements made by Ramdev, “no action has been taken yet. We are hereby declaring Nationwide #BlackDayProtest on 1st June, 2021 at workplace, without hampering healthcare services”.
“We demand an unconditional open public apology from him or action against him under the relevant sections of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897,” the statement had said.