Indian Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar on Sunday termed the violence committed against a health warrior on August 9th as barbarity expressed in extremity, shaming entire humanity.

He was referring to the rape and murder of a PG trainee doctor in Kolkata last month which has triggered widespread protests across the country. 

Addressing students and faculty members at AIIMS Rishikesh, he said that such barbaric incidents put the entire civilization to shame and shred what 'Bharat' stands for.

Lamenting over the usage of the term ‘symptomatic malaise’ by some stray voices, Dhankhar said such statements aggravate our excruciating pain and add salt to our injured conscience.

“When humanity has been shamed, there are some stray voices, voices that cause concern. They only aggravate our excruciating pain,” he added.

Recognising his accountability to the medical fraternity and the women of this country by virtue of his constitutional post, Dhankhar said, “I am before you. As a matter of fact holding a constitutional position, I have to show my accountability, I have to justify the position I hold as vice president and chairman Rajya Sabha.”

“Such incidents our heart is injured, our conscience is crying and our soul is seeking accountability,” he added.

Referring to the work of medical professionals as ‘Nishkam Seva’ as pronounced by  Lord Krishna without any expectation just doing their duty, the VP condemned acts of violence against the doctors in any form.

Expressing his concern for the safety of doctors at workplace, he emphasised to bring out a mechanism where health warriors are impregnably protected.

“A doctor can help only to a limit. A doctor cannot convert himself to god. He is next to God, so when somebody dies, out of emotive feelings and uncontrolled feelings, doctors are not given the treatment they deserve... .security of the doctors, nurses, compounders, health warriors must be impregnably protected,” he added.

Criticising the selective silence of NGO’s, Dhankhar said that “certain NGOs on road for drop of an incident, drop of a hat are in Silence mode.We have to question them. Their silence is much worse than the culpable act of perpetrators of this heinous crime on August 9 2024. Those who seek to play politics and earn brownie points, are not responding to the call of their conscience.”

Underlining the responsibility of society to prevent such incidents and develop a mechanism where women feel safe, the Vice-President stressed, “Whoever has done it will be held accountable but society is also to be held accountable. Society cannot escape its responsibility. I don't want to make it a matter of the government or a matter of political parties. It is a matter of society, it is an existential challenge to us. It has shaken the very foundation of our existence. It has questioned what India stands for and stood for thousands of years”.

“It is not an occasion to earn Brownie points, score political mileage. This is non partisan. It requires bi-partisan concerted efforts. There is a need for convergence of all stakeholders in democracy, to come together on one platform,” he added.