Union Health Minister JP Nadda visited Lady Hardinge Medical College and Hospital and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital on Tuesday to meet injured protesters [1, 2].
The visit follows a police crackdown on the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) ‘Chalo Sansad’ march, where several participants sustained injuries during clashes with authorities [1, 3].
Nadda arrived at the medical facilities to enquire about and monitor the conditions of those hospitalized [1, 4]. Some reports indicate that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi accompanied the minister during the visits to the wounded [1, 2].
The CJP ‘Chalo Sansad’ march was intended as a demonstration of political grievance, but the event ended in violence when security forces intervened to stop the procession [3, 4]. The health minister was briefed by medical staff on the current status of the patients receiving care at both institutions [4].
Despite the government's presence at the hospitals, the CJP leadership expressed dissatisfaction with the administration's response to the unrest. The party has called for accountability regarding the police actions that led to the injuries [5].
"We are yet to hear from the government," Saurav Das, CJP chief spokesperson, said. "We are taking care of our protesters. The government needs to sack Pradhan instead of this photo‑op" [5].
Medical officials at Lady Hardinge Medical College provided updates on the treatment of the protesters, though specific casualty numbers were not detailed in the briefings [4]. The presence of high-ranking officials from opposing political factions suggests a high level of tension surrounding the crackdown [1, 2].
“The government needs to sack Pradhan instead of this photo‑op”
The joint or concurrent visits by senior leaders from both the government and the opposition highlight the political volatility surrounding the CJP's 'Chalo Sansad' movement. While the government seeks to project a humanitarian response through the Health Minister's visit, the CJP's dismissal of the gesture as a 'photo-op' indicates a deepening rift and a demand for systemic accountability rather than medical oversight.
