‘Outsiders Trying To Tarnish AIIMS Image, Harjit Bhatti Not Associated With Us,’ Says Hospital In Statement

The centre-run All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, has released a statement saying “some outsiders are trying to tarnish the image of AIIMS” and “Dr Harjit Singh Bhatti is not associated with AIIMS”.

Bhatti, as Swarajya earlier reported, has endorsed himself as an official spokesperson of AIIMS in the media in the past even when he was and is not employed with the institute. Bhatti is a full-time Congress Party worker.

After the violence at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus In January, Bhatti told a portal, Newslaundry.com, that injuries suffered by students affiliated to ABVP were “superficial”. The portal wrongly introduced him as a “doctor at AIIMS” and carried his version without revealing his political affiliation.

Journalist Barkha Dutt introduced him as “first official word” and “first official medical response” on injuries in JNU violence for a report done by her venture, Mojo Story. Bhatti endorsed this introduction.

The recent statement issued by the institute says, "It has come to our notice that there are some outsiders who are trying to tarnish the image of AIIMS. In this hour of crisis, when all healthcare workers, the government and the people are tackling the pandemic, there are some people who are trying to undermine the efforts.

“It is informed that Dr Harjit Singh Bhatti is not associated with the AIIMS, New Delhi, in any capacity. His tweet is intended to damage the image of AIIMS,” the statement adds.

Recently, Dr Bhatti in a tweet alleged that the doctors and nurses were being threatened by the administration for disciplinary action. "On what basis do they take action? Doctors are under no obligation to work without protective equipment," he tweeted.

Bhatti is a former president of the Resident Doctors' Association at AIIMS. Currently, he is not a treating doctor at any hospital.