The acting Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) of a government hospital in Sultanpur district, Uttar Pradesh, has been booked and suspended after allegedly making remarks about Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the state government, as per media reports. According to The Indian Express, the doctor, Dr Bhaskar Prasad, claims he has been wrongly accused and that the entire episode is part of a conspiracy.
Dr Prasad, who had been serving as the officiating CMS at the 100-bed government hospital in Birsinghpur, has been quoted to say, “I didn’t say anything wrong or use abusive language… I merely reacted, saying why would they take out my procession -- they should take out one against the government instead.”
The controversy began on Saturday when Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers staged a protest outside the hospital, alleging poor medical facilities. During the confrontation, a protester told Dr Prasad that they would take out an effigy procession of him and the Chief Medical Officer (CMO). In a video that later went viral, Dr Prasad was purportedly heard responding, “CMO ki kyon nikaloge, sarkar ki nikaliye, Yogi ji ki nikaliye (why would you take out a procession against the CMO, take it out against the government, Yogi instead).”
Following this, a local BJP leader lodged a complaint at Jaisinghpur police station, accusing Dr Prasad of using “objectionable language” against the government and the chief minister, reported The Indian Express. The police registered an FIR under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
By Tuesday morning, the state government had suspended Dr Prasad. Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who also holds the health portfolio, confirmed the action. “The doctor has been suspended for making objectionable comments against the state government,” Pathak told The Indian Express. He added that while the hospital is newly established and still developing, “there are very good facilities available… it takes time to meet all requirements.”
BJP’s Sultanpur district president, Susheel Tripathi, has been quoted to say, “As soon as we saw the video, we informed the district administration and our senior leaders. Our mandal president got a case lodged against the doctor. He violated service rules by making such anti-government remarks. Action has already been taken against him by the government.”
Meanwhile, Dr Prasad maintains that he has been targeted unfairly. “Over the last three years, some of my close family members, including my wife, passed away and I got upset when the AAP leader used the word ‘arthi (bier)’ and said they would take out my funeral procession,” he said, explaining the context behind his remarks.
He further alleged political interference, claiming, “The local MLA wanted favours for his contractors, which I refused to grant. Since then, he has been allegedly opposing his appointment as acting CMS, Dr Prasad claimed. He added that local MLA (BJP) Raj Prasad Upadhyay circulated the video to senior officials, including the District Magistrate, CMO, Additional Director, Ayodhya, BKS Chauhan, and the Director General (Health).
Apart from the FIR, the state health department has also initiated a departmental inquiry against him. Chief Medical Officer, Sultanpur, Dr Bharat Bhushan has been qupted: “A departmental inquiry has been ordered and the Director of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Hospital, Lucknow, has been assigned the probe.”
Dr Prasad has also been accused of negligence in waste management and of allowing patients to be prescribed medicines from outside the hospital -- charges he denies. “The Additional Director found a plastic particle in human waste and held me responsible. I am also not aware if any nurse or medical officer prescribed medicines from outside. All these charges have been framed against me,” he said.
“I will be approaching the court soon, seeking relief into the false charges framed against me and the subsequent suspension,” Dr Prasad added.
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