A woman alleged being asked to remove her burqa at Cooper Hospital, sparking a political controversy.
Because she was wearing a burqa, advocate Jahanara Shaikh, who said she had gone to the Andheri hospital on Sunday to visit a relative, alleged that she was stopped outside the maternity ward. Because children could allegedly be kidnapped by people wearing burqas, she said security personnel told her that the restriction was being imposed for security reasons and. Another advocate, Zahra Shaikh, also said she faced a similar situation at the hospital and confirmed that the videos circulating on social media were genuine.
Cooper Hospital Dean Dr Chaya Shinde said there had been a “severe miscommunication” and maintained that the hospital treated all patients and their relatives with respect. She said the hospital had subsequently conducted sensitisation workshops for doctors and security personnel. Every patient is important, and providing treatment is essential,” Tawde said.
The incident came to light after a video went viral, prompting allegations of religious discrimination. She questioned the logic behind the instruction, saying that responsibility for preventing child abduction rested with hospital authorities and security personnel, not with women wearing a particular form of clothing. However, frequent changes among security staff remained a challenge. “On humanitarian grounds, it is our duty to allow any patient visiting the hospital to enter. Caste, religion or creed should not be considered.
MUMBAI: The controversy over a woman allegedly being asked to remove her burqa before entering the maternity ward at BMC-run Cooper Hospital has triggered a political row, with the hospital issuing a show-cause notice to the security guard concerned and conducting sensitisation workshops for its staff.