Wedding party at hospital irks patients

However, the January 23 party hosted by Modi and his wife was an exclusive one for the staff of the Wadia Institute of Cardiology. The venue was the terrace of this 40-bed hospital, which is also surrounded by rooms of the Jehangir Nursing Home.

Anil Bakshi, chief librarian of the British Council Library, who was recuperating in Room No 507 of the Jehangir Nursing home relates, “since the morning of January 23, hectic preparations were going on and I thought it must be for a conferenceor a prize distribution ceremony scheduled later in the day. However, I was disturbed to see a band in attendance in the evening with loud blaring music and harsh lights coming in from the terrace.” Another visitor who was a relative of a patient in Jehangir Nursing Home and does not want to be identified says that “pop like Daler Mehendi’s balle, balle was played aloud, shattering the peace of the patients." Says Bakshi, “I came to know it was a wedding celebration party when a lady, I believe it was Ms Modi announced over the mike that: please take your partner and join the wedding march.” Her next sentence was, “Please ladies and gentlemen, hold your hands and make a circle so that the wedding couple can have their first dance.”

He adds: “Is this a hospital or a hotel? No consideration was paid to the patients of the Wadia Institute or Jehangir Nursing Home unless of course the Wadia Institute rooms are sound proof. But what about us who could not sleep till 1 am?”

When The IndianExpress contacted Modi, he was disturbed by this complaint. He said, “It was a sober affair and we always hold annual gatherings on this terrace. To ensure that the lighting does not unnerve the patients, we had put up a curtain. The party was over by 10.45 pm. I have made extensive enquiries at the reception counters of the Wadia Institute of Cardiology and the Jehangir Nursing Home and no complaints by patients have been registered by them. I think, the trains that pass by near these hospitals make ten times more noise compared to the party that was held.” G E Narielwala, in-charge of the Wadia hospital administration, stated agitatedly, “we are entitled to hold annual gatherings on our terrace and it is not fair to say that patients were disturbed."