Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 20: Opposition MLAs from National Conference, Congress and CPM including former Chief Minister and NC leader Omar Abdullah, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Nawang Rigzin Jora and CPM MLA MY Tarigami today staged a walk-out in the Legislative Assembly after holding massive protests for about 15 minutes during Question Hour demanding dismissal of Head of Department (HoD) Forensic Medicines, Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu for molestation of a Medical student.
As soon as the Question hour began, all National Conference and Congress members were on their feet. The Congress MLAs had also brought banners and placards with them carrying slogans seeking dismissal of the doctor and protection to the female Medicos.
Jora said four MLAs had called on Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and raised the issue in the House twice while he also met the Governor. He charged some functionaries in the Government with trying to shield Dr Khajuria.
“A mafia has developed in the GMC Jammu, which was exploiting the female Medical students. The Government, instead of taking action against the mafia, was shielding them,” Jora said.
Another Congress MLA from Kargil Haji Asgar Ali Karbalaie said the Government slogan of `Beti Padao, Beti Bachao’ has become hollow as it has not been taking stern action against the doctor including his termination from the services and immediate arrest.
Shouting slogans against the Government, some of the Opposition MLAs trooped near the Well of the House shouting slogans against the Government and Dr Bhupesh Khajuria and demanding protection of the female Medicos.
Speaker Kavinder Gupta directed the Government to make a statement on the issue raised vociferously by the Opposition members.
Minister of State for Health Asiea Naqash told the House amid protests by the Opposition members that the doctor was immediately arrested, a First Information Report (FIR) lodged and he was suspended from the services. She said an inquiry was on and she would submit a report to the House in the next couple of days.
However, as the MLAs continued their protests, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Abdul Rehman Veeri said the issue raised by the Opposition members was very serious. He said the Government has already lodged a FIR and was holding an inquiry. The doctor has been suspended, he added and assured the House that whatever legal action possible will be taken against the doctor.
However, the Opposition MLAs went ahead with their protests and then staged a walk-out in the House.
All National Conference MLAs including Omar Abdullah, Congress MLAs and lone CPM member staged a walk-out on the issue.
The State Government had constituted an inquiry committee to investigate the allegations of molestation against the senior doctor at Government Medical College (GMC) hospital in Jammu.
Minister for Health and Medical Education Bali Bhagat had earlier informed the Upper House that Government has constituted an inquiry committee to investigate the incident.
Khajuria, who was the Head of the Department of Forensic Medicine, was booked on December 27 following a written complaint by the student.
She had alleged that the doctor called her to his room on the pretext of discussing the result of her examination and tried to molest her. She somehow managed to run out of his room and then contacted her parents.
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