Assam Congress condemns alleged rape of woman ‘denied’ ambulance by hospital

From Our Correspondent

GUWAHATI

The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has, in no uncertain terms, condemned the alleged rape of a woman from the tea garden community while she was returning home from a hospital after testing COVID-negative in Borhaat Nagamaati area of Sonari constituency in Charaideo district on Sunday. 

In a statement issued here on Monday, the Assam PCC stated that “the most surprising fact is that the hospital authorities of Sapekhati Model Hospital could not provide an ambulance to drop the woman and her daughter who were COVID patients and were discharged after they turned negative. The mother and daughter were left to fend for themselves when lockdown (curfew) was in place. Isn’t it the responsibility of the hospital and local authorities to see to it that the woman and her daughter reached their home safely?” 

The Opposition party asked the Assam government to immediately apprehend the culprits and take action.

“The honourable chief minister had, upon taking office, stated that the safety of women in Assam would be his top priority. Is this his example of the safety of women? We are all aware and it is a matter of utter shame that crime against women in Assam has been the highest in the country in the past three consecutive years,” the Assam PCC stated.

“Incidents of crime against women are growing unabated. If the government remains silent and does not take concrete steps, the safety of our women and girls are at great risk. Is this why the women of Assam voted for the BJP? A government that cannot ensure the safety of its women and children has no basic right to remain in power,” it asserted. 

“When the government of India had sanctioned Rs 15,000 crore as Emergency Fund for corona and Rs 35,000 crore for vaccines, when people of India are going all out to donate to PM Cares Fund and when people of Assam have also donated generously to CM Relief Fund for corona, why are hospitals running without ambulances?” the Opposition party stated.

A few days back, BJP MLA from Khumtai, Mrinal Saikia had also tweeted that the Golaghat Civil Hospital refused to admit two COVID patients to the hospital and he had to arrange an ambulance for the patients.

“So this is the actual ground situation of health infrastructure and COVID management in Assam,” APCC stated. 

The party further stated the incident exposes the apathy of the BJP government towards women from tea gardens and those belonging to backward communities.

ALSO READ: Assam: Woman walks home after hospital denies ambulance; allegedly raped

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