Rahul Gandhi's comments besides veer into ageist territory, perpetuating harmful stereotypes astir ageing and cognitive health, helium said. (Express File)
A radical of aesculapian practitioners has demanded a nationalist apology from Congress person Rahul Gandhi implicit his alleged disparaging remarks connected the cognitive abilities of US President Joe Biden, saying it suggests a deficiency of sensitivity.
In a missive to erstwhile Congress main and Rahul Gandhi’s parent Sonia Gandhi, All India President of the National Medicos Organisation Bharat (NMO-Bharat) C B Tripathi said Rahul Gandhi’s comments perpetuate harmful stereotypes astir ageing and cognitive health.
Addressing a canvass rally successful Maharashtra’s Amravati connected November 16, Leader of the Opposition successful Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi appears to beryllium suffering “memory loss” like the “former President” of the US, seemingly referring to Biden, the outgoing president of the United States of America.
Tripathi said successful the letter, “Such statements connected a nationalist level hazard perpetuating misinformation, perchance shaping nationalist perceptions successful ways that could negatively interaction the knowing and attraction of existent patients.” The NMO-Bharat is profoundly troubled by the remarks attributed to Rahul Gandhi, “which appeared to disparage the cognitive abilities of the President of the United States, Joe Biden”, helium said.
“It is disappointing to spot Rahul Gandhi remark truthful crudely astir a overseas caput of authorities who is overmuch elder and older than him. This flies close successful the look of our Indian ethos of respecting our elders. Such remarks are unbecoming of a person of absorption and suggest a deficiency of knowing and sensitivity,” Tripathi said successful the letter.
Rahul Gandhi’s comments besides veer into ageist territory, perpetuating harmful stereotypes astir ageing and cognitive health, helium said.
“This is not conscionable disrespectful to the individuals targeted but besides to countless elder citizens successful India who lend meaningfully to nine contempt wellness challenges,” the missive said.
“Mrs. Gandhi, you person personally been a unfortunate of specified health-related rumours, misinformation, and allegations. You would cognize however damaging specified narratives tin be, not lone for the individuals targeted but besides for the broader sermon successful society. This gives america assurance that you, of each people, tin recognize wherefore your son’s remarks were some unfortunate and misguided,” the missive said.
“On behalf of the aesculapian community, we impulse Mr Gandhi to bespeak connected his remarks, contented a nationalist apology, and refrain from making specified insensitive comments successful the future. Political dialog should uplift and unite, not stigmatise oregon mock,” Tripathi said.