Minister Sudhangshu Dasdemands suspension of medical services for Bangladesh

Agartala, Nov 30, 2024, By Our Correspondent

Agartala: Nov 30: Sudhangshu Das, the Minister of Animal Husbandry, has sparked controversy with a call to ban medical services for Bangladeshi citizens in India, following an incident in Bangladesh where the Indian national flag was disrespected. Expressing his outrage, Minister Das accused those responsible for the flag disrespect—whom he labeled as "uneducated, barbaric, madrasa-educated jihadis"—of coming to India for medical treatment and other services. He urged Indian doctors to take a stand against this "inhumanity" and stop providing services to individuals from Bangladesh, whom he referred to as "jihadis."

The minister's statement has stirred significant reactions, particularly in the northeastern state of Tripura. A private hospital in Agartala, ILS Hospital, voiced its support for the minister's stance and decided to cease providing medical services to Bangladeshi citizens. This decision triggered protests, with a large group of people gathering outside the hospital. Protestors raised slogans demanding a ban on the treatment of Bangladeshi patients, expressing their anger over the alleged insult to the Indian flag.

The protests at ILS Hospital reflected broader concerns over ongoing issues in Bangladesh, including the continuous persecution of Hindus, the arrest of Hindu monks, and the disrespect towards the Indian national flag. These incidents, which have gone viral on social media, have fueled public outrage in India, especially among those who view the actions as a threat to national dignity.

In response to the protests and in solidarity with public sentiment, the hospital authorities decided to halt medical services for Bangladeshi patients. Protestors have also indicated that they plan to extend their demand to other hospitals, such as GB Hospital, ensuring that this issue remains at the forefront of public discourse in the region. The decision has sparked a heated debate about nationalism, respect for national symbols, and the provision of services to foreign nationals in India.