Cops rescue preaching IAS official from angry attendants at RGGGH

The official, C Umashankar, now working as Commissioner, disciplinary proceedings, has a history of getting pulled up for religious activities while at work, including being removed from election duty on similar charges during Parliament election in Madhya Pradesh.

The trouble started when Umashankar and team went to ward 46 and tried to comfort some patients in the name of Jesus. The relative of a kidney patient, a Hindu outfit member, was enraged by this and called in his associates who gathered there and objected to religious activities inside hospital wards. They informed the police, seeking action against Umashankar and others.

A team led by a sub-inspector came there and asked group to stop preaching if patients were objecting to it. Then Umashankar revealed his identity and showed his identity card.

When contacted, Umashankar said that objective was to comfort the patient and claimed that that they had gone there only after getting oral permission. “As we were comforting, there were a few who rejected it. There were some without attendants, whom we comforted. We prayed for them and offered biscuits. But on Sunday, a person created ruckus and called the police to arrest us. I intervened and asked under what provision action can be taken against us. Article 25 of the Constitution grants fundamental right for a person to freely practice and propagate religion,” he contended.

However, hospital dean Dr R Jayanthi said no kind of religious preaching was not allowed inside the hospital and added they have sent circulars regarding this. “No such permission was granted to anyone to conduct any religious preaching in the hospital premises,” she said.