'Inspired by Modi and BJP': Kolkata cardiologist offers Rs. 500 discount to patients who chant 'Jai Shri Ram'
Kolkata/IBNS: A debate over mixing profession with political ideology has surfaced amid the high-voltage West Bengal assembly elections, after a city-based cardiologist offered a Rs 500 discount to patients who chant “Jai Shri Ram”.
For context, “Jai Shri Ram” has been widely used as a political slogan by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is aggressively seeking to unseat the Mamata Banerjee-led government in the state.
Doctor’s offer draws attention
Dr. Prakash Kumar Hazra, a senior interventional cardiologist, announced the discount for patients visiting his private clinic.
Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, Dr. Hazra reportedly put up the offer along with a QR code for payments.
‘I have every right to hold a political view’
Explaining his stance, Dr. Hazra cited the long-standing association between medicine and politics, referring to former West Bengal Chief Minister Bidhan Chandra Roy.
“I am inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party. ‘Jai Shri Ram’ is not a religious slogan; it is a political slogan,” he said, as quoted by CNN-News18.
“I have every right to hold a political view. There are doctors affiliated with the Left who say ‘Lal Salaam’. Why can’t I say ‘Jai Shri Ram’?” he added.
He also noted that while the current state government has delivered to some extent, a political change is needed.
About the cardiologist
An alumnus of Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, Dr. Hazra is currently the director of interventional cardiology at Manipal Hospital.
He has reportedly performed over 10,000 radial angiography procedures and more than 2,500 coronary angioplasties and pacemaker implantations.
The discount offer applies only to patients visiting his private clinic.
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