Case against former SMO condemned
Tribune News Service
Patiala, May 5
The Association for Democratic Rights (AFDR), Punjab, Patiala, has condemned the registration of a case against a retired senior medical officer (SMO), Dr Amar Singh Azad, on the charge of circulation of fake news and creating rumours on the social media regarding MR vaccination campaign.
The complainant is Patiala Civil Surgeon Dr Harish Malhotra.
In a resolution passed in the meeting, it was asserted that Dr Amar Singh Azad has just expressed his personal views and knowledge as a doctor regarding the side-effects of Measles-Rubella vaccine. It is rather the duty of the government/health department to clarify and answer his queries and apprehensions. The organisation has demanded that the case filed against Dr Amar Singh Azad be cancelled
and unconditionally withdrawn.
It was decided in the meeting that a deputation will soon meet the authorities concerned in this connection. It is because all this action of the health department amounts to the denial of the right of self-expression.
In the meeting, it was also decided that all other democratic associations will be contacted to come forward in support of Dr Azad so that this anti-democratic move of the state be opposed. It was also decided that if the FIR was not withdrawn soon, the organisation will chalk out further line of action in consultation with other democratic organisations in the next meeting to be held next week.
Among others who attended the meeting were Dr Ranjit Singh Ghumman, president, Sucha Singh Gill, patron, Vidhu Shekher Bhardwaj, secretary, Dr Krishan Chand, Director-General CRRID, Chandigarh, Prof Bawa Singh, former vice-chairman, National
Commission for Minorities, Master Sucha Singh, Master Tarsem Lal, Jagmohan Singh BKU, Advocate Rajiv Lohatbaddi, Balraj Joshi, Bhagwant Kanganwal, and Dr BS Sohal, Head ENT, Rajindra Hospital.
