Jaunpur: Two journalists in Jaunpur have been booked after reporting allegations that a doctor at the District Women’s Hospital refused to treat a pregnant Muslim woman due to her religion. The case has stirred strong reactions and reignited debate over press freedom and communal bias in Uttar Pradesh.
The controversy began when a video went viral on October 1. In the clip, Shama Parveen claimed that a duty doctor refused to conduct her delivery, allegedly saying, “I will not treat a Muslim woman.” She said she was denied entry into the operating theatre despite repeated pleas.
Hospital authorities dismissed the allegation. Chief Medical Superintendent Dr. Mahendra Gupta said the doctor in question denied making any religious remark and that an internal inquiry was conducted. He also lodged a complaint against journalists Mayank Srivastava and Mohammed Usman, accusing them of entering the labour room without permission, filming videos, and damaging property. Police subsequently filed cases against both reporters.
Political reactions followed swiftly. Samajwadi Party MLA Ragini Sonkar called the incident “shameful” and linked it to growing communal tensions in the state. Congress leader Vikesh Upadhyay demanded strict action against the accused doctor. BJP spokesperson Avnish Tyagi rejected the opposition’s claims, saying healthcare under the Yogi Adityanath government is provided without discrimination.
The case has highlighted tensions between media accountability, communal harmony, and the freedom to report sensitive issues. An official investigation is ongoing.
