Pregnant Muslim woman in labour pain denied delivery at UP hospital
Police book two journalists for sharing video exposing discrimination
Jaunpur: In a shocking case of discrimination, a Muslim woman has alleged that a doctor at a district hospital in Uttar Pradesh’s Jaunpur refused to treat her on religious grounds.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the woman, identified as Shama Parveen of Biribari village, was admitted to the district women’s hospital around 9:30 p.m. on September 30 for delivery.
A video that surfaced on October 1 showed Parveen claiming that the doctor on duty told her, “I will not treat a Muslim woman or conduct your delivery,” before asking her family to take her elsewhere. The footage went viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage and political criticism.
Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) Dr. Mahendra Gupta said he was “shocked” by the allegations and immediately sought an explanation from the concerned doctor. “An inquiry was conducted, and the report has been sent to higher authorities,” he stated.
However, instead of taking action against the accused doctor, the police registered a case against two local journalists—Mayank Srivastava and Mohammad Usman—for allegedly sharing the video online.
The incident has triggered strong political reactions. Samajwadi Party MLA Ragini Sonkar termed it “a shameful reflection of the rising communal tension in the state,” adding that “no woman in labour pain would fabricate such a claim.” She criticised the authorities for targeting journalists rather than investigating the alleged discrimination.
Congress leader Vikesh Upadhyay also condemned the incident, calling it “deeply disturbing that a doctor could refuse treatment based on religion.” He demanded strict action, saying, “A patient in pain has no caste or faith—humanity must come first.”
