Yogi Adityanath’s government has always been speculated to get rid of voices which speak against it. The case of Dr. Kafeel Khan is one of such kind. After the stringent NSA (National Security Act) was levied on him, the selfless man, who saved the lives of many babies, was detained.
In the latest development, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, General Secretary of Congress, in her letter to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has urged for the release of Dr. Kafeel Khan.
Ms. Gandhi wrote that she necessitates the awareness of this matter as the doctor has spent over 450 days imprisoned in jail. She said that Dr. Khan has served people gallantly without any personal motives during difficult times.
Her letter, originally written in Hindi, on further translation expresses Ms Gandhi’s hopes for Adityanath to understand the situation and prove his generosity by helping Dr. Khan to get the justice he deserves.
“I hope that you will look into the matter in a sensitive way and ensure that Dr Khan gets justice,” said Priyanka Gandhi.
She ended the letter with a hymn by Guru Gorakhnath. The hymn meant, “Do not discriminate anyone, speak sweet words. If someone is spewing the fire, then Yogi, you become the water and calm him down.”
In regards to the NSA invoked against Dr. Khan in February last year by the Aligarh district administration, the Allahabad court has announced to hear the plea on August 5th.
While he was arrested several times earlier, his recent arrest was made by the Special Task Force (STF) of UP on basis of his comments at Aligarh Muslim University for the protest against the Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) which took place on 12th December 2019. A first information report (FIR) filed at the Civil Lines police station under Sections 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups), 153 B and 109 of the Indian Penal Code accused Dr Khan of provoking the students, vitiating the university’s peaceful atmosphere and disturbing communal harmony. He was arrested from the Mumbai airport and sent to jail. According to the Frontline of The Hindu, he was granted bail on February 2nd, yet wasn’t released. Even after a messenger was sent to the jailer to accelerate his release, he was held illegally and soon after, the NSA was imposed on him to make sure that he doesn’t get a chance to go out of the prison.
The 2017 case of children dying due to “lack of oxygen” was transformed into a “Japanese Encephalitis” caused death, blaming the entire matter on Dr. Khan. He was arrested and released on bail in April, 2019, after an inquiry set up by the UP government itself found Dr Khan to be innocent. He was later acquitted of all charges in September of that year. The report stated that the man in fact went all out to save the children by arranging for oxygen cylinders from outside the hospital, using his own money. However, the CM continued to hold him responsible calling it a case of his “negligence” combined with “corruption”.
When released, Dr Khan told media that there was a deprivation of oxygen cylinders in the hospital as the vendor wasn’t given his payments on time, which he had written through 14 emails.
The government yet again, accused him of spreading false rumours along with making anti-government remarks.
On account of this, Dr Khan was also suspended from his work.
Now, the Congress party has decided to take up the matter, staging a protest for his detention as well. They have started a campaign, demanding the release of DrKafeel Khan.
He was involved in multiple campaigns in Bihar last year. These offered free services to everyone as the state was trembling with many people dying of encephalitis.