Bihar minister draws flak for ‘chopping hands’ quip
Bihar Health minister Ashwini Choubey found himself mired in controversy, with several political rivals taking a dig at him for contentious comments on the state’s doctors.
Choubey, on Sunday had clarified: “When I said that ‘mein doctors ka haath bhi kaat sakta hoon’ (chop off the hands of doctors), I had used it as a phrase and not meant it literally.”
However, the clarification hardly provided him any respite, with CPI leader A B Bardhan on Monday demanding an explanation.
“Choubey should explain to the nation which phrase means hand-chopping. At least I have never heard of any such phrase. The Health Minister’s statement is quite irresponsible and needs to be condemned in strong words,” Bardhan said.
Reacting to Choubey’s comments, the RJD said the minister had lost mental balance and needed “psychiatric treatment at the mental hospital in Kanke (near Ranchi).”
“If Nitish can’t afford, we are ready to get him treated properly at the mental hospital,” said RJD national general secretary and Rajya Sabha member Ram Kripal Yadav.
Meanwhile, the junior doctors of four medical colleges in the state remained adamant on launching an indefinite strike from January 31 to demand implementation of senior residency scheme and a hike in stipend.
The junior doctors working in Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) have been assured of support by the post-graduate students of Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) and Anugrah Narain Magadh Medical College and Hospital (ANMMCH).
