A recent viral video from the Jaunpur District Women Hospital has ignited a firestorm of controversy. In the footage, a pregnant Muslim woman alleges that a female doctor denied her essential medical treatment, including delivery services, due to her religious identity. The patient, Shama Parveen from Chandwak, Jaunpur, recounted the harrowing incident, stating, “She [the doctor] explicitly said, ‘I will not treat Muslims.’ This occurred around 9:30 p.m. My delivery did not proceed. The doctor insisted, ‘I will not conduct the delivery,’ and instructed the nurse not to bring me to the operation theatre, telling her to take me elsewhere.” Reportedly, another Muslim patient also experienced similar discrimination. Attempts to reach the Chief Medical Officer and hospital administration for comment were unsuccessful.
This shocking incident has drawn strong condemnation from opposition parties, who argue that such actions are a direct consequence of the divisive political and communal atmosphere fostered by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Imran Masood, a Member of Parliament for the Congress party, voiced his dismay, stating, “This behavior is utterly unacceptable in any civilized society and goes against all professional ethics. It stems from the deep-seated divisions in society fueled by the ruling BJP’s continuous politics of hatred. When government agencies engage in discrimination and cruelty against minorities, it only further fragments society. On one hand, anti-social elements are given free rein to vandalize an ancient mausoleum and damage shops during the Kanwar Yatra in Fatehpur, while on the other, the minority community is deliberately targeted across Uttar Pradesh.”
Afzal Ansari, a senior Lok Sabha member from Ghazipur and a leader of the Samajwadi Party, called for an immediate inquiry into the matter. “A thorough investigation must be launched into this video. If these allegations are true, it is beyond comprehension, as doctors are held in high regard in society and must never differentiate between patients. However, this incident tragically highlights a broader pattern in Uttar Pradesh where a specific community is being targeted by those in power. We have witnessed official letters being issued to clear encroachments from Gram Sabha land, specifically mentioning individuals from the Yadav and Muslim communities. Those at the highest levels are using venomous language against a segment of society. I sincerely hope the judiciary will also take notice of such rhetoric and the deliberate targeting of particular communities,” said Ansari.