After Haryana State Women Commission Chairperson Renu Bhatia resigned from her post, nurses at government hospitals have withdrawn their two-hour pen-down strike. However, they continue to seek an apology from her for her remarks against the nursing staff.
Nurses File Complaint at Police Station
The nurses also reached Kurukshetra University police station and submitted a complaint against Renu Bhatia. The nursing staff raised slogans and demanded her arrest.
The agitating nurses said that the chairperson has resigned, and in view of the inconvenience being faced by the patients, the strike has been withdrawn.
Senior Nursing Officer's Statement
Senior nursing officer Anita said: “The Chairperson has resigned from her post, but she has not withdrawn her statements and allegations that the nurses were involved with the doctor. She has hurt the sentiments of the nursing cadre. In view of the inconvenience being faced by the patients, the strike has been withdrawn. However, we will continue the struggle legally. We stand with the victim girl and seek justice for her, but the way the chairperson blamed the nursing staff for the incident is not acceptable.”
Nursing Officer's Reaction
Similarly, nursing officer Monika said, “She kept criticising the nurses without even knowing the facts. Even though she has resigned, she hasn’t apologised for her remarks. We have submitted a complaint against her at the police station. The state association will decide the future course of action and also file a defamation case.”
Questions Over Re-employment of Accused Doctor
The agitating nurses said that nobody is talking about the officials who re-engaged the accused doctor after retirement despite having information about his tainted past.
A 15-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by doctor Shailendra Kumar at the hospital last month. His services were terminated soon after an FIR was lodged. The doctor was arrested and sent to jail.
Background of the Incident
On June 6, Renu Bhatia had visited the Lok Nayak Jai Parkash Hospital to inquire about the sexual assault incident and reprimanded the officials for negligence. During the visit, Bhatia said she would write to the Director General Health and the Additional Chief Secretary Health to remove the Principal Medical Officer of the LNJP with immediate effect, as she failed to ensure the presence of a lady nurse in the OPD during the girl's check-up, and also seek action against the nurses for their negligence.
The nurses' association has decided to pursue legal action, including a defamation case, to seek justice for the nursing cadre and ensure accountability for the remarks made against them.
