Yesteryear stand-up comedian Sunil Pal recently made some tasteless remarks against the doctors of the country working in Covid management and treatment by terming them as Shaitan (demon), thieves and fraud during a monologue on the NBT Entertainment channel. Miffed and hurt by Pal’s comments, the AIIMS Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding the strictest action against Pal for his “derogatory and obnoxious” comments.
“It breaks the heart of all those who have endeared so much, doctors and non-doctors alike when their intentions are questioned and maleficence is spread by denigrating words.” the letter read.
“The recent monologue by comedian Sunil Pal circulated on NBT entertainment channel has pinched the weary nerves of all doctors who have jumped back into this war, often selflessly, and is definitely bound to affect their morale and grit,” the AIIMS RDA further said.
The doctors were not impressed by Pal’s shoddy antics to invite media attention and even tweeted to the Home Minister, in addition to the letter, “Doctors are ready to sacrifice everything to save INDIA from COVID-19, and such a statement against the saviours is unacceptable. RDA AIIMS request Hon’ble @AmitShah Ji to put @iSunilPal immediately behind bars under Epidemic Act. He must be punished for it. #doctorsaresaviours”
Doctors are ready to sacrifice everything to save INDIA from COVID-19, and such a statement against the saviours is unacceptable.RDA AIIMS request Hon'ble @AmitShah Ji to put @iSunilPal immediately behind bars under Epidemic Act. He must be punished for it.#doctorsaresaviours pic.twitter.com/drrozPyEwt
— RDAAIIMS DELHI (@AIIMSRDA) April 19, 2021
RDA AIIMS request Hon'ble Home Minister of INDIA @AmitShah ji to intervene and take action against @iSunilPal for his derogatory comments against Doctors of INDIA who are working day night in COVID 19 PANDEMIC,saving people.@PMOIndia @drharshvardhan@ArdPgimer @IMAIndiaOrg pic.twitter.com/TLAafUe60g
— RDAAIIMS DELHI (@AIIMSRDA) April 20, 2021
In the video that has since gone viral on social media platforms, the ‘comedian’ can be heard hurling choicest of insulting words at the doctors who have been battling at the frontline for more than a year to keep the virus at bay.
“During the corona times we are seeing 90 per cent doctors turning into demons (shaitan) and progenies of demon (Shaitan ki aulad) and roaming around. Fraud doctors,” the comedian was heard as saying.
Pal continued his monologue and called the doctors thieves with a smirk on his face, “I request the government to install the CCTV cameras in the wards where the COVID patients are kept so as to keep an eye on these thieves (the doctors).”
After receiving public backlash for his video, Sunil Pal released yet another 7-minute video where he ranted with folded hands but did not apologise even once. The video had a clickbait title of “Aadhi Raat Ko Mili Social Media Pe Kuchh Doctor’s Ki Dhamkiya” (Got threats from some doctors on social media at midnight), designed to attract views.
In the video, the comedian did not sound sincere in his apology and instead of cleaning the slate, asked the government to protect him from the threats he was receiving from the doctors. Pal’s lack of awareness was astounding when he claimed that his freedom of expression was being violated and if PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah directed, he will never open his mouth.
The doctors’ association has taken the right step by taking their plea to the Home Minister and proper action should be taken against Sunil Pal. The doctors are the real-life heroes in the battle with the China-made pandemic and thus anyone belittling them should be indicted.
It would be interesting to see what happens to him if he gets infected with COVID-19.