Karwar: TSS Hospital authorities in Sirsi have clarified that they have not rift with the newly inducted Union Minister Anant Kumar Hegde, two days after the Indian Medical Association had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reconsider his decision on making Hegde a minister, who is facing charges of assaulting a doctor.

National president of IMA, K K Aggarwal in a letter to PM Modi stated the incident of January 2017, where MP Anant Kumar Hegde had assaulted a doctor in Sirsi. The letter also stated that the police are not acting properly in this case and so far no evidence has been recorded.

IMA state president Dr Rajashekar Bellary, said, it is not good to include people like Hegde in central cabinet as it will send a wrong message to the society, “We strongly condemn the attack on doctors by people in responsible positions. The MP has not tendered an apology so far to the association and we too demand the PM to reconsider his decision,” he said.

Hegde assaulted two doctors, Dr. Madhukeshwar and Dr. Balachandra Bhat of TSS hospital in Sirsi accusing that they have not given proper treatment to his mother. Opposing his act, many doctors from the district and various parts of the state had staged protest under the banner of IMA and had shutdown hospitals for a day and protested.

After these developments, the state Home Minister G Parameshwar had ordered police to register a suo moto case. Sirsi police registered FIR against MP Hegde under the IPC sectors 323, 341, 504, 34 IPC, sector 4 of Karnataka Prohibition of violence against medicare service personnel and damage to property in Medicare Service institutions.

But later the MP apologized and hence the doctors at TSS hospital decided not to file FIR and the hospital’s side. But the suo moto case is still under progress. When contacted Sirsi CPI, he said the inquiry is pending in the case. The officer refused to comment further about the case.

Chairman of TSS hospital Shantaram Hegde Shigenhalli said: “After MP apologized for the incident, our doctors have not filed any FIR and there are not differences among us. But I do not know why IMA has written letter to the PM.

Looking Back:

January 2: Complaining health problem, MP Hegde’s mother visits TSS hospital in Sirsi, but doctors delay to attend her. Later in the night, Hegde along with few people came to hospital and assaulted Dr. Madhukeshwar and Dr. Balachandra Bhat.

January 3: The incident of MP Hegde attacking doctors was recorded in CCTV cameras and the video went viral.

January 4: Various organizations staged protest against the assault

January 5: IMA’s state wing condemns the incident.

January 6: Home minister G Parameshwar orders police to file suo moto case

January 7: Doctors in Sirsi shuts hospitals for a day in protest

January 8: Police begin search for MP Hegde

January 15: TSS hospital administrative board says that MP Hegde has apologized and the doctors will not file any FIR

January 19: MP Hegde gets anticipatory bail from Additional District Court of Sirsi.