On Thursday, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi visited the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi, where he met with patients awaiting treatment and listened to their concerns.
Interaction with Patients
During his visit, Gandhi interacted with several patients and their families, offering emotional and potential financial support.
Govind Lal, one of the patients, shared his experience:
“He asked me about my stay here. He also asked about the treatment of my daughters.”
Another patient, Pawan Kumar, whose 13-year-old daughter is battling blood cancer, expressed gratitude for Gandhi’s concern:
“He asked me for my phone number and said that his team will contact me and help me as much as possible.”
Asha Devi, the mother of Pawan Kumar’s daughter, revealed that Gandhi promised financial assistance for her daughter’s treatment.
Congress’ Criticism of AIIMS Facilities
The Congress party criticized the state of facilities and the government’s insensitivity toward patients at AIIMS. In a post on X, the party said:
“Waiting for months for treatment, inconvenience, and insensitivity of the government – this is the reality of Delhi AIIMS today. The situation is such that people who have come from far-off places bearing the burden of illness of their loved ones are forced to sleep on footpaths and subways in this cold.”
Inauguration of ‘Indira Bhawan’
Earlier in the day, Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, inaugurated the new Congress headquarters, Indira Bhawan. This marks a significant moment for the party, which was founded in 1885.
Speaking at the event, Rahul Gandhi emphasized the ideological commitment of the Congress party in defending its values against systematic attacks:
“Everybody in this room is under severe assault defending the ideas of the Congress party. Sometimes we forget it, but these people are facing systematic attack and assault on their lives because they are in the Congress party and are not surrendering to the BJP and the RSS.”
He concluded by highlighting the symbolic significance of Indira Bhawan:
“This building has emerged from the soil of our country, from the blood of our leaders and workers. The idea behind this building must also reach every corner of our country.”