Although the Gorakhpur Mishap is horrendous, the way media played it is awful
Prashant Patel Umrao
While the country mourned the death of innocent children at Baba Raghav Das medical College, Gorakhpur, the Media
politicised the issue and started the labelling and certifying culprits in its own trial room.
Many editorials and news debates surfaced criticising Yogi Adityanath for the incident. But the prior data, before Yogi Adityanath was sworn-in was taken into consideration, it was found that around 10,000 children had died in last 39 years in Gorakhpur and its adjoining regions. Further it was revealed that Yogi Adityanath wanted to debate about ‘Encephalitis’ disease in the Parliament in 2014 but Congress staged a protest and walked out.
So what the reality behind the deaths? The way Dr Kafeel Ahmed Khan was held as a ‘saviour’ who emerged out of nowhere; surely raised eyebrows. Was it a conspiracy to defame Yogi? If the prima facie situation was to be looked at one can argue it was!
Role of the left-leaning media is much suspected as the way it prompted Dr Kafeel Ahmed; out of no where; and without checking his background; which is criminal.
Moreover; many editorials that emerged were used as a tool to thrash the Union Government right calling them as ‘communal’ ‘insensitives’ and ‘anti-minority.’
Going by all the blame-game what no one was talking about was that the government had released the payment for oxygen Supply Company on August 7, 2017. What took it so long to release the payments? Further it also became clear that Rs 68 lakhs which were due to be paid were not paid although the college account had Rs 1.86 cr.
Dr Kafeel Ahmad, media’s ‘Hero’, is in reality corrupt to the core. He indulged in private practice while working at the hospital. Falsely filed an affidavit in 2016 claiming that he is not doing any private practice nor has any criminal charges; although he has a private hospital named ‘Medispring Hospital and research centre’ and few criminal cases on him. But Principal Rajiv Mishra appointment him head of Encephalitis department due to his political links with ruling party by ignoring all his criminal cases against him. It is thus clear that he used the oxygen cylinders and ventilators that were supposed to be used at the BRD College at his private hospital; and it was with the support of Principal of the college. Dr Kafeel was handcuffed in 2009 by Delhi Police for impersonating in a medical exam. He was part of a medical racket for clearing PMT exam. He was arrested from Kendriya Vidyalaya; Janakpuri and had sent to Tihar. FIR u/s 120B, 419 , 420 and 34 was registered against him at Janakpuri Police station. He got bail from Tis Hazari court with the help of a Union Minister.
A FIR no. 67/2015 u/s 376, 342,323,504,506 IPC for rape with Nurse of his Pvt Hospital was registered against him at Mahila Thana, Gorakhpur. The case is still pending at ACJM Court Gorakhpur. Inspite of all the criminal track record Dr Kafeel was a free bird as he had patronage of the previous regime and due to his relations with the then DGP Javed Ahmed who happens to be brother-in-law of his younger brother Kasif.
More surprising is that just days before Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the hospital, why was he kept in darkness by the hospital management? Why didnt Dr Kafeel, who media argues to be a man of honesty and integrity, inform him about the shortage at that time?
It can be concluded that Dr Kafeel Ahmed is no protagonist in the scenario; and only arranged oxygen cylinders to save his skin. Moreover; The Principal of the college Rajiv Misra is a fraud who took commissions along with his wife from Oxygen supplier Company Pushpa sales. After Yogi Government came in power in March 2017, company denied to give Commission then Dr Rajiv stopped it’s payment since April. Rajiv Misra along with Poornima Shukla is now suspended for the alleged corruption. Poornima was taking Commission on every work in BRD College & was responsible for mismanagement. Dr Kafeel Ahmed is also suspended and is on run.
The Left-leaning media which still propogates Dr Kafeel as a ‘scapegoat’ of all this fiasco, should understand and obtain his track record before accusing the establishment of minority targeting. Dr Kafeel was no angel and certainly not a ‘man of integrity and honesty’.
Although the Gorakhpur Mishap is horrendous and awful, the way media has reacted to it shows that there is a grave need for it to introspect. Promoting a ‘fugitive’ as a ‘saviour’ is condemnable and ‘misleading’.
