UP journalists booked for reporting doctor’s refusal to treat Muslim woman
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Uttar Pradesh: Two journalists in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, have been booked following their report on a case involving alleged religious discrimination by a doctor who purportedly refused to treat a pregnant Muslim woman. The hospital administration, however, has denied the accusation.
According to police, cases have been registered at the Kotwali police station against journalists Mayank Srivastava and Mohammed Usman based on a complaint filed by Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) Dr Mahendra Gupta. The complaint alleged that the journalists forcibly entered the labour room, recorded videos, and caused damage to hospital property.
The controversy stems from a video that went viral on October 1, in which a woman named Shama Parveen claimed she was denied medical attention because of her religion. Parveen, who had come to the district women’s hospital for delivery, alleged that the duty doctor refused to treat her, saying, “I will not treat a Muslim woman. I will not conduct your delivery.” She said she was subsequently denied entry to the operating theatre despite being in labour.
Even after she confronted the doctor about creating a communal issue, the doctor allegedly ignored her.
Hospital authorities, however, have firmly denied these allegations. Dr Mahendra Gupta told PTI that Parveen was admitted around 9:30 p.m. on September 30 for delivery and had been examined by the duty doctor. “The doctor in question has denied making any remark based on religion. An inquiry has been conducted into the matter, and the higher authorities have been informed,” Dr Gupta stated.
The incident quickly gained political traction after leaders from the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress condemned it as “shameful.”
Samajwadi Party MLA Ragini Sonkar criticised both the hospital and the police action against the journalists. “It is the result of the communal tension spread across the state. No woman in labour pain would lie about being denied treatment,” she said, adding that she intends to meet the district magistrate and, if required, raise the issue in the Assembly.
Congress leader Vikesh Upadhyay Vikki also condemned the incident, saying, “It is extremely shameful that a doctor, who has taken an oath to serve all sections of society, refused treatment on religious grounds. The victim has no caste or religion in such situations. Strict action should be taken.”
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Avnish Tyagi dismissed the opposition’s claims as baseless, calling them an attempt to divide society. “Public welfare schemes have been extended to all communities under the government’s ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ motto — whether it’s housing, health care, or ration distribution. There is no discrimination under the Yogi Adityanath-led government,” he said.
With PTI inputs