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Journalism of Courage
HYDERABAD, DEC 28: Parliamentarians who create headlines by rushing to the well of the House and upsetting proceedings seem to be having competition from a very unlikely group 8212; doctors! The 74th National Conference of the Indian Medical Association IMA being held here today for most part resembled the Parliament.
Speakers were mobbed, opinions and speaches were drowned in slogan-shouting and the House8217; had to be adjourned amidst pandemonium as the noise levels became a clear match for parlimentarians8217; lung-power.
Delhi8217;s move was met with stiff resistance with doctors from other states rushing to the well8217; and mobbing Agarwal. Pandemonium prevailed for the next five minutes forcing Agarwal to withdraw Delhi8217;scandidature.
This created another problem with other IMA branches from Delhi questioning Agarwal8217;s right to file a nomination and then withdraw it. With Delhi holding the mike at one end and other states, noticably Maharashtra, the other, bedlam broke out.
The presiding officer adjourned the meet for 10 minutes for doctors to bring their blood pressure to normal levels. But even as the House was adjourned, he put Pune8217;s name to vote and asked doctors to raise their hands.
To the consternation of the presiding officer, there were more hands than the members present as some doctors raised both their arms in support. Over enthusiastic supporters even asked a few journalists to raise their hands.
Nainital was the other name in the running. But they lost heavily to Pune.
Senior doctors were aghast at the way the proceedings were held. Dr Gopal Kishen, president of IMA Hyderabad, pointed out that never in the 74-year history of the IMA has such a thing happened. 8220;This only shows where we doctors arenow,8221; he said pleading for an urgent amendment to the Constitution of IMA so that the selection procedure of venues is not reduced to such a farce.
Other senior doctors hauled the IMA over the coals for gross financial irregularities. Quoting the auditors, they said fixed assets have vanished, money is vanishing faster and what has probably vanished the fastest is credibility among doctors.
Incidentally, the IMA meet was supposed to be a closed-door affair. But with mikes to amplify the murky proceedings, all the pow-wows in secrecy were available on the roads and adjacent colonies.
Another aspect that has raised eyebrows is how Delhi IMA lugged a captive press along for the conference. Without involving the local media, press conferences were organised8217; at the drop of a hat where select doctors were allowed to air their views.
