Urgent need for drugs price regulation //Dr Arun Mitra

 25th August 2022 at 4:45 PM

Dr. Arun Mitra Wrote this writeup on 20th August 2022 

The news that the company producing Paracetamol in the trade name of ‘Dolo’ spent 1000 crore rupees as freebies to the doctors for the promotion of their drug is a matter of concern. It shows the total failure of the government in regulating the pharmaceutical marketing practices. It is well known that Pharma companies spend huge amount of money for promotion of their products. Much of this is spent in organizing medical conferences in the name of continued medical education programmes many a times at lavish scale. This ultimately adds to the cost of drugs and adds to out of pocket expenditure of the patients. The government framed Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices  (UCPMP). A letter of the ministry of chemicals and fertilizers, department of pharmaceuticals dated 12 December 2014 had mentioned that this will be voluntary for a period of six months with effect from 1st January 2015 and will be reviewed thereafter.  Obviously the voluntary clause did not yield noticeable results.    

Admitting this fact, Shri H.N. Ananth Kumar, the then Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers,  said in the Rajya Sabha in June 2016 that the voluntary code introduced in 2015 had not yielded desired results and that the government would make it mandatory because the Pharmaceutical companies did not take any tangible steps to implement the code. Clauses 6 and 7 of the code prohibit the Pharma companies from giving freebies to the medical professionals.  But despite several representations from the public health activists and civil society groups the practice has not stopped. The Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) regulation also warns the doctors against such practices to receive financial benefits in any form including for attending education programs. Taking cognizance of the matter even the central board of direct taxes (CBDT) in its Circular No. 5/2012 [F. NO. 225/142/2012-ITA.II], Dated 1-8-2012 had said that any such expenditure by the Pharma company will not be considered for tax deductions.  After ten years the order has been reconfirmed by the Apex court.  

Expressing concern over pharmaceutical companies giving freebies to doctors, which push medicine prices up, the Supreme Court on 22nd February 2022 held that they are not entitled to claim tax exemption on the expenditure incurred in giving incentives to medical practitioners to promote their medical products and it would be considered as part of their income.  

As per the guidelines in the UCPMP the companies have to adopt stipulated procedures laid down by the competent authority for involving doctors in their research projects. These companies then use doctor’s reference including her/his photograph in their promotional literature. The UCPMP prohibits such work.      

Ironically statement by the Minister of Chemicals & fertilizers DV Sadananda Gowda  in the Parliament in September 2020 that the Union government has no plans to make the Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) mandatory is very disappointing. He said this in reply to a question by K. Muraleedharan, Congress MP from Kerala in the Lok Sabha.   

The u-turn on making UCPMP mandatory raises suspicion of lack of will on the part of the government to keep its commitment and smacks of some unfair deal between the government and the Pharma companies. When a delegation of the Alliance of Doctor for Ethical Healthcare had submitted its opinion to the drugs price regulating body, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) in February 2020, they were told that the NPPA has no jurisdiction to check the companies. This has to be done through changes in the law at the ministerial level.        

The high cost of drugs seriously affects the healthcare of our population. As nearly 67% of out of pocket health expenditure in our country is on drugs. High out of pocket expenditure pushes 6.3 crore population below poverty line every year, a fact admitted in the National Health Policy document 2017.  But the government has not taken any tangible steps to control the excess trade margin in the sale of drugs and medical devices.       

A committee was formed to look into High Trade Margins in the Sale of Drugs on 16 September 2015. This committee took serious note of the excess trade margins. They pointed out that in some cases the trade margin is as high as 5000%. This committee submitted its report on 9 December 2015. But it is now almost 7 years that the government has been sleeping over it.  

The pricing of the drugs should be calculated on the basis of the cost involved in its production. The market based pricing, calculating the average of the highest selling drugs is totally a flawed approach.   

Therefore it is high time the government makes the UCPMP mandatory and comes out with an effective control on drug prices.    

Having sensed that private sector in the pharmaceutical sector would be exploitative, our first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru took initiative to produce the drugs in the public sector with the purpose to produce cheap bulk drugs. While inaugurating the Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (IDPL) in 1961 he said  “the drug industry must be in the public sector….. I think an industry of the nature of the drug industry should not be in the private sector anyhow. There are far too much exploitation of the public in this industry”. With this vision, IDPL was incorporated in April, 1961 It was established with main objectives of creating self-sufficiency in respect of essential life saving medicines, to free the country from dependence on imports and to provide medicines to the millions at affordable prices and not to make millions from the medicines. IDPL played a pioneering infra-structural role in the growth of Indian Drug Industry base. It played a major role in the strategic National Health Programmes like Family Welfare Programme & Population Control (Mala-D & Mala-N) anti-malarial (Chloroquine) and prevention of dehydration (ORS) by providing quality medicines. During the country’s calamity of outbreak of Plague in 1994, IDPL was the only company which played the sheet anchor role in supplying Tetracycline for the entire Nation. Similarly, company had made uninterrupted supply of Chloroquine to combat Malaria epidemic in different parts of the country. In 2005 to combat national emergency (leptospirosis) arising due to flood in Maharashtra, IDPL had supplied required Doxycycline Capsules within no time. IDPL has always supplied quality medicines and its presence has played a price balancing role in the competitive & business environment. World Health Organisation had made its observations on IDPL as follows:-“IDPL had achieved in 10 years what others have in 50. IDPL products have been examined for quality very carefully by the developed countries and many of them want to buy from here”. 

Similarly the foundation stone of Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd (HAL) was laid by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Central Research Institute (CRI) Kasauli is pioneer in the field of vaccines not only in India but in the world. Founded on 3rd of May 1905  the institute was originally established with a mandate of research work in the field of medical and public health, manufacture of vaccines and antiserum, human resource development and to act as a national referral centre for public health problems.   

But when there was shift in the economic policies and there were changes in the patent rights laws under the WTO after it was founded on 1st January 1995, the whole scenario started changing. Indian companies had to bear the brunt and major impact was on the Public Sector Units (PSUs). The IDPL, HAL and Kasauli were financially constrained. Cheap vaccines produced by these companies now became very expensive and out of reach of common man.    

The Union Cabinet’s recommendation in its cabinet meeting dated 28th December 2016 to close down and sell the pharmaceutical PSUs is a big blow to the concept of the state ensuring affordable, and possibly free-of-cost, medicines for millions.  It is time to raise voice to build public opinion for strengthening the pharmaceutical PSUs if the country really wants affordable medicines for the people.  

As per the NPPA order dated 25th March 2020 there are 856 drugs whose ceiling price has been fixed by the NPPA. Since the drug (Medicine and medical device) is not a luxury there should be ceiling on price of all the drugs without exception. The public sector units should be rejuvenated and strengthened to ensure affordable drug prices.  

Ukraine Issue:End war and resume dialogue immediately

3rd March 2022 at 4:47 PM

Take effective steps to evacuate all Indian citizens-IDPD 

Com. Amarjit Kaur and Prof. Jagmohan Singh exposed the truth

Ludhiana: 3rd march 2022: (Kartika Singh//Punjab Screen)::

In a protest demonstration held here at Ludhiana today the Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) reiterated that the war must end immediately, the military operation by the Russians should cease and dialogue be resumed between Russia and Ukraine. Any escalation could lead to use of the nuclear weapons, which would be catastrophic. For lasting peace it is all the more important that USA and NATO should stop meddling in others affairs. NATO should be dismantled. The nuclear weapons should be abolished immediately from the earth and all the nuclear weapon possessing countries should join the UN Treaty Prohibiting Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). The UNO should play an effective role in this process.

Exposing the truth of war AITUC General Secretary Comrade Amarjit Kaur  said that the USA and NATO are real culprits of the war. Human Rights and Civil Liberties activist Professor Jagmohan Singh explained the capitalist interests of USA and Nato which provoked the war.

    

The speakers expressed deep grief at the death of Indian student Naveen Shekharappa in Ukraine in the shelling by Russian army.  Still thousands of students are stranded in Ukraine who need to be evacuated immediately. The demonstration was held from Near Bharat Nagar Chowk to Mini Secretariat in which various speakers expressed anguish at that Indian government delayed the evacuation process which is leading to this situation. India has the experience of evacuating 1.7 lakh Indians from gulf during the gulf war. But this exercise requires seriousness and determination. It is unfortunate that instead of taking the evacuation process seriously our Ministers are busy in public relation exercises and show off through the media. Even the Prime Minister is patting his own back for an exercise not even half done properly. Our foreign minister should go to Russia in the spirit of non-aligned movement and appeal to the Russian government to help in evacuation of Indians stranded in Ukraine.   

  

The events have also exposed the government’s policy of privatisation of medical education which is exorbitantly high priced in India. This pushes many students to go abroad to get education at relatively much lower cost. Statement of the Prime Minister in this regard that the private sector should open more medical colleges is against the interests of the students.  It is therefore important that the medical education should be in the state sector.  

   

Prominent among those who addressed include Dr Arun Mitra, Ms Amar Jeet Kaur, Dr Gagandeep Singh, Dr Param Saini, Dr Monika Dhawan, M S Bhatia, Prof. Jagmohan Singh, Ranjit Singh, Dr Gulzar Pandher, Dr Shakti Prabhakar. Progressive Writer’s Association Punjab Ludhiana unit participated in the event. 

The war on nuclear weapons is far greater than Corona

 Prominent Speakers Warned During the Webinar

Ludhiana: 8th August 2021: (Kartika Singh//Punjab Screen)::

A seminar on "Forward to Global Nuclear Disarmament" was organized by IDPD, CNCP, AIPSO and NAAM to pay tribute to the victims of the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The international level webinar was run live on Facebook by Dr. Arun Mitra, Senior Vice President, Indian Doctors for Peace and Development. Speakers at the webinar included Dr. Subrata Raju, Dr. Tilman Ruff, SP Uday Kumar and Plubsen Gupta. They demanded that the world be free from these nuclear weapons. The speakers lamented that neither the governments nor the people were serious about it. Nuclear warfare is far more dangerous than the Corona epidemic. We have seen that our health services have deteriorated during the Corona epidemic and have failed to deal with it. But the nuclear weapons epidemic is much larger. All peace-loving people should put pressure on governments to get out of this unnecessary race and spend this money on providing health services to the people. Dr. Arun Mitra conducted the webinar in a very smooth manner. At the end Dr. Shakeel Ur Rehman - General Secretary IDPD concluded the discussion and IDPD President Dr. SS Sudan thanked everyone. The webinar was attended by doctors from IDPD and IPPNW, as well as people from other sections of the society, who expressed their views, including  Amarjit Kaur, General Secretary, All India Trade Union Congress. She expressed her views in detail about the adverse effects of nuclear weopen race on the workers.

Why police turned a blind eye to mischief makers

Friday: 29th January 2021 at 3:21 PM

Medical Team questioned on Red Fort Incident

After Return from Delhi Borders: 29th January 2021: (Punjab Screen Bureau)::

We the doctors and paramedical staff Have been organizing  medical Camps at Tikri and Singhu borders on behalf of Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD).  Our medical teams marched along with the tractors. We are pained at the events that occurred on 26th January when a few unscrupulous elements hoisted flag at Red Forte. This situation arose when police created hurdles on agreed route & looked other way around to facilitate prohibited route.  since we were present there throughout we are eye witness to affirm that such hooliganism was done by a miniscule number of people and it could have been very well prevented if the police had been little cautious. Moreover being Republic day police outnumbered hooligans. It is anybody's guess why police turned a blind eye to mischief makers. Thousands of tractors took out the march peacefully at the stipulated route. The march was so peaceful that not a single glass pane was broken, not a car was overturned, nor any bus burnt, nor any damage to any public property was caused by the people who marched on the tractors. Locals showered flower petals & served langar on the way. It is difficult to comprehend how these unscrupulous elements  could reach Red Forte which is nearly 20 Kilo meters away from the Singhu border. This smacks of some deep rooted conspiracy behind it. However during the tractor march we treated several  farmers who were injured seriously by the Lathi charge or tear gas shells by the police. Hands of two people were badly damaged which  they may never get  back to completely normal state. One patients was overrun by the vehicle. Three patients sustained fractures. There were many with minor injuries . It is sad to know that a medical team led by Dr Swaiman was attacked by the police at a time when they were giving medical aid to the injured including the policemen. Similarly at Singhu Ambulance was smashed & Dr Balbir Singh pushed aside when he was attending an injured farmer. As medical personnel we feel that   people are already sitting there for over two months now and have developed several medical problems which are likely to get aggravated in the coming time. Therefore whereas we appeal to the protesters to be calm and cautious we appeal to the government to repeal these laws in ongoing budget session, restore peace & tranquility to create congenial atmosphere for dialogue & discussion. Democratic Govt is duty bound to consult farmers, State Govts & consumers before framing laws. We hope & pray better sense will prevail. 

Our team members included Dr Arun Mitra, Dr Gagandeep Singh, Dr Balbir Singh, Dr Monika Dhawan, Dr Param Saini, Dr S S Sidhu, Dr Suraj Dhillon, Dr Gurvir Singh, Dr Rajan SIdhu, Kuldip Singh, Anod Kumar, Swaroop Singh, Amninder Singh, staff of the Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarbha Dental Collage and Hospital worked hard during the tractor march to serve the injured.  

The campaign of CPI candidates gears up

Mon, Feb 19, 2018 at 3:24 PM

Frontal race in all seats which they are contesting

Ludhiana: 19th February 2018: (Punjab Screen Bureau)::

The CPI candidates Randhir Singh Dhira from ward no.78, Ajit Chaursia from ward no.95 and Sanjay Kumar from Ward no.94 are in the frontal race in all the three seats. In addition two candidates Kulwant Kaur from ward no.7 and Rajvinder Kaur from ward no.22 who have CPI support but are contesting as independent are in up front in the election race. They modus operandi of campaign has been door to door and corner meetings. Women are actively participating in the campaign in all the five seats. The theme campaign of the candidates is clean drinking water and sewerage for all the population, government dispensaries in each ward, low cost medicine shops in each ward, affordable quality education for every citizen, affordable residential facilities, cheap houses for the economically weaker sections, sport facilities and play grounds in every ward, park in every mohalla, planned residential colonies, good roads, proper maintenance of street & traffic lights with solar penal. Over bridges for crossing for pedestrians with ISBT as first priority, flyovers in all crowded crossings & railway crossings, easy approach to major hospitals, cleaning of Budha Nalla through Satljut Action Plan, law & order, security for women particularly girls students & women employees, working women’s hostels, end to land mafia, sand mafia, cable mafia, parking mafia, separate focal point for small scale industries, security for traders, stream lining of auto rickshaws, vending zones for rehri pharies, bring transparency in the functioning of the municipal corporation and for this make all activities digital and available on website, to check stray animals.  

Join the Treaty Prohibiting Nuclear Weapons (TPNW)

Mon, Dec 25, 2017 at 5:40 PM

India should take initiative to convince nuclear weapons states 

IDPD DELEGATION IN NOBEL PEACE PRIZE CEREMONY

Ludhiana: 25th December 2017: (Punjab Screen team)::

Time has come now for all the nuclear weapons possessing countries to join the TREATY PROHIBITING NUCLEAR WEAPONS (TPNW) and phase out these weapons of mass destruction to save earth. This was said by Dr Arun Mitra – Co President IPPNW while addressing a seminar on Nobel Peace Prize to ICAN – Tasks Ahead at Circuit House, Ludhiana today. Large number of people from different walks of life including doctors, teachers, lawyers, women, students, youth and social activists participated in this seminar organized jointly by Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) and Social Thinkers Forum.   

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A seven member delegation from Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) from different parts of the country  including Dr Arun Mitra -  Co President International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), Dr S S Soodan-President, Dr Satyajit Kumar Singh-Senior Vice President, Dr Shakeel Ur Rahman-General Secretary, Dr Jeetendra Singh-Secretary of IDPD, Dr Bibha Singh and Dr Yahya Khan    participated in the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony to International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) in Oslo, Norway  on 10th December 2017. Expressing joy at the award as a recognition to the anti nuclear movement said Dr Arun Mitra that it is time to not just rejoice the award, but for commitment to work hard to make all the nine nuclear weapons states join the treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons (TPNW) passed by the UN General Assembly by 122 vs one vote on 7th July 2017. The ICAN was launched as a group of various peace movements around the world on 23rd April 2007 as an idea conceived by the IPPNW to build a broad based movement for nuclear disarmament. It now has 468 partners with IDPD as one of them. Various researches have shown that even a limited nuclear war using 100 Hiroshima sized bombs will put 2 billion people at the risk of starvation and death. Total number of nuclear weapons on earth at present is estimated to be about 17000 which can put all the flora and fauna at the risk of extinction. Such catastrophic effects must not be allowed and therefore the nuclear weapons must be abolished for good. For this the ICAN has organised several civil society meets around the world on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons. This ultimately convinced the UNO to discuss the issue and succeeded in getting the TPNW through.

It is imperative that there should not be any escalation of tension in Indian subcontinent and all efforts should be undertaken to maintain the peace in the region. Any small arms low level conflict has in it implicit danger of use of nuclear weapons because both India and Pakistan have over 120 nuclear weapons each. The IDPD has reiterated commitment for a nuclear weapon free world.   Click here to see more pics on FB

Dr N S Bawa said that India should take initiative and convince all the nuclear weapon states to join TPNW. He further narrated the harrowing images of mass destruction he had seen during his visit to Hiroshima peace museum.

M S Bhatia–Co Convener Social Thinkers Forum called up all the participants in the seminar to spread this message.

S.Ranjit Singh–President Bharat Jan Gyan Vigyan Jatha gave vote of thanks.

Others who joined the seminar are Dr Shakti Kumar, Dr Jaswinder Singh, Dr Tejinder Toor, Dr Gursharan Singh, Dr Gurcharan Kaur Kochar, Student leader Deepak Kumar, Gurnam Gill, Gurnam Sidhu, Jagdish Rai Bobby, Swaroop Singh, Vijay Kumar, B S Walia, Avtar Chibbar.

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For more details please contact:M S Bhatia–Co Convener Social Thinkers Forum. His mobile number is: 9988491002

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Unconcerned, Casual and Callous Attitude alleged

Central Bank Employees Criticized Bank Management 

Ludhiana: 17th October 2017: (Punjab Screen Bureau)::

The employees and officers of Central Bank of India in large number staged a demonstration against the management to press for their long outstanding demands. This was held in front of the Regional Office of the bank situated at Ferozepur road Ludhiana. Their demands include immediate appointment of the wards of the members who died in harness which are about 200 in number and  lingering for the last two years. The second major demand is recruitment of  all the officers  and clerks allocated  by IBPS. This demonstration is part of the all india agitation call given by All India Central Bank Employees Federation and All India Central Bank Officers Association. Speakers told that the compassionate appointment scheme has been reintroduced in the banks from 5th August 2014 after a long persuation by our apex body AIBEA. Only 7 or 8 substaff members have been given appointment, whereas around 200 appointments are kept pending  for the last more than 2 years. Similarly recently IBPS has allocated around 1860 single window operators, around 500 AFO’s and around 300 PO’s  at the request of Central Bank Management. Bank has preferred to appoint very less number of employees and officers contrary to the need of the branches, leaving the majority of the vacancies unfilled. The leaders criticized the unconcerned attitude of the central office management towards the family meembers of the deceased employees. They declared that if the demands are not fulfilled then there will be one day strike on 7th December 2017. The leaders who addressed included Com. Rajesh Verma-- President, Com. M S Bhatia- Regional Secretary of Central Bank Of India Employees Union ( North Zone) and Com. Gurmeet Singh- Deputy General Secretary and Com. Sunil Grover- Regional Secretary, Central Bank Officers Union( Chd. Zone). The unions are affiliated to AIBEA and AIBOA.

Declare nuclear weapons illegal-IDPD

Ludhiana Seminar urged India and Pakistan 

Ludhiana: 6th August 2017: (Punjab Screen Bureau)::

Nuclear weapons biggest public health hazard- Opportunity to prevent now Indian and Pakistan urged to support the UN treaty declaring nuclear weapons illegal

People from all walks of life including doctors, lawyers, teachers, women, youth, students and trade unionists etc. at a seminar held at Circuit House, Ludhiana today through a unanimously adopted resolution called upon the governments of India and Pakistan to join the United Nations Treaty legally binding the nations to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons, Leading Towards their Total Elimination. The UN resolution adopted by 122 votes in favour and only one against declared the nuclear weapons possession, development, sale, keeping them on launch as illegal. This is a big step forward towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons from earth. Ironically the nuclear weapon states did not join the deliberations.

Addressing the seminar Dr Arun Mtira – Senior Vice President IDPD said that the tiny atomic bombs (as per the standards of the present day nuclear weapons) killed around 140,000 people in Hiroshima and nearly 70,000 in Nagasaki and roughly half of the deaths in each city occurred on the first day. Out of 300 doctors 272 died; 1684 of 1780 died and 42 of 45 hospitals were destroyed. There was complete lack of medical care. High dose of radiations added to the woes. It is assumed that there are nearly 17000 nuclear weapons on earth today which are enough to destroy all the flora and fauna several times over. A hypothetical study named  “Bombing Bombay”  by M. V. Ramana, a physicist who works at the Nuclear Futures Laboratory and the Program on Science and Global Security, Princeton University, reveals that even a small bomb, such as the one used in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, would kill from 150,000 to 800,000 (8 lakh) people. Up to 2,000,000 (20 lakh) people would be injured. Besides this there would be large amount of collateral damage causing chaos all around.  The radiation effect will last for many years to come.

Dr Balbir Shah  gave a heart-rendering description of destruction by the nuclear weapons through poetry by Sahir  and expressed sadness that unfortunately the world has not learnt lesson and nuclear weapons continue to remain on earth.

Dr Bharti Uppal, quoting the study by Dr Ira Helfand, Co President of IPPNW on Climate Consequences of Regional Nuclear War pointed out that even a limited nuclear war could put over two billion people at risk globally. Based on a study with an example, a war between India and Pakistan involving 100 Hiroshima-sized bombs, would kill up to 20 million people outright.

Prof. Jagmohan Singh said that methodology should be evolved by the civil society to force the nuclear weapon states to abide by the decision of the UN General Assembly. 

M S Bhatia – Co-Convener Social Thinkers Forum said that people cannot be made to suffer at the whims of the military industrial complex. India and Pakistan are amongst the countries with very low indicators on human development index. Our people desperately need health and education. The arms race must be stopped and money diverted for development.

Through another resolution it was requested to the government of Punjab that this subject should be made part of the curriculum for school students. 

Others who addressed include Dr Sanjeev Uppal, Dr S K Prabhaker, Mrs Kusum Lata, Ranjit Singh, D P Maur, Vicky Mahesri, Deepak Kumar etc.

Doctors irked over Togadia’s participation in IMA rally

Dr. Arun Mitra wrote a letter to IMA president

Ludhiana: 8th June 2017: (Punjab Screen Bureau)::

The ranks of medical fraternity under the Indian Medical Association (IMA) here are divided on the participation of VHP leader Pravin Togadia in the protest held by the IMA in New Delhi on June 6. Doctors across the country had observed a strike demanding a central legislation to deal with violence against doctors.

In an open letter written to IMA president KK Aggarwal, former district president and former state senior vice-president Dr. Arun Mitra said the doctors here had whole-heartedly supported the nationwide strike on June 6 because they were convinced that the majority of the doctors were sensitive towards their duty and sincerely tended to the sick and infirm.

Taking strong exception to inviting ParveenTogadia to address the IMA rally at New Delhi, Dr. Mitra charged the IMA president of either being ignorant and naive about Togadia’s hard line views or having some ulterior motive. “The act of inviting Togadia to the rally has lowered the professional prestige of the organization,” he remarked.

Mitra said doctors were entitled to know the reason for inviting Togadia to address the rally when he has no locus standi. 

In his letter Dr. Mitra said,"We actively participated in the  protest against violence on  doctors organized by the   IMA on 6th June 2017 because we are convinced that most of the doctors are sensitive towards their duty of care to the patients, they are compassionate and are truthful in their total approach to the care of the sick and the infirm.  Even though we have strong reservations over certain approaches of the IMA central leadership, for example, getting support from the pharmaceutical companies for organizing education programs in a lavish manner,  endorsing certain commercial products and also on holding IMA meetings in places like  Pataya in Thailand. As concerned members, we had pointed out about these from time to time." 

He further said,"I, Arun Mitra have been an active member of the association since the early 1980s and was President of the Ludhiana unit and then senior vice president of Punjab state IMA in 2009. Therefore despite the reservations mentioned above we have been involved in the IMA because I feel that this is the premier body of the doctors which carries legacy of eminent persons like Dr A K N Sinha and Dr B C Roy. But we were utterly perturbed to learn that Parveen Togadia was invited to address the rally at Delhi.

Doctors are taught to have patience and provide care within best of our ability to the patients irrespective of caste, creed or community. As a doctor we give declaration and pledge that we will consecrate life to the service of humanity. This clearly means that we dedicate ourselves to humanity. Parveen Togadia is well known for venomous hate speeches. When one possesses bias against a particular community how can one justify the commitment to serve all the people in the same manner?

Inviting ParveenTogadia to address indicates that either you are ignorant and naive about Togadia's views or you have some ulterior motive.  This act of inviting Togadia has lowered the professional prestige of the organization.

As citizens of the country and members of IMA we have every reason to know why he was invited to address when he has no locus standi, he is neither any office bearer of the IMA nor he is a doctor of great eminence that his presence will boost the cause of IMA. 

India must take firm stand against Trump

Sat, Jun 3, 2017 at 5:28 PM
BJGV Jatha criticized Trump's Anti India Rhetotic 
Meeting opposed his stand on Paris agreement 

Ludhiana: 4 June 2017: (Punjab Screen Bureau)::
The Bharat Jan Gyan Vigyan Jatha has criticized US President Donald Trump for pulling out of Paris agreement on climate change. After a meeting of the Jatha held under the chairmanship of its president Shri Ranjit Singh it was said that this act of Trump is a total violation of international commitments. The Paris agreement is based on commitment to prevent climate change by reducing the carbon production. Through this agreement the developed countries, who are responsible for excess carbon concentration in the atmosphere, which is causing green house effect and thus climate change will take steps to mitigate this harmful change.  Under the agreement the polluter countries would pay back in form of carbon credits to the developed countries to keep up their economies. Whereas the whole world agrees to this the US has now pulled out. Not only that trump has given a statement against India accusing us of having desire to extract billions.   This is totally wrong, uncalled for and against all norms and forms of international relations based on mutual respect. The govt. of India should give an effective reply to this statement of trump. Those who participated in the deliberations include Dr Arun Mitra, M S Bhatia, I S Sodhi, Dr Rajinder Pal singh Aulakh, Rector Kathuria, Pardeep Sharma.

Defeat forces of communalism and hatred-CPI

Save harmony, unity and secular values of Indian society

Ludhiana: 7th May 2017: (Punjab Screen Team)::

Whatever they may do, people of India will not let the efforts of communalists of any brand using any religion as the cover for their nefarious designs to create social disharmony and split the society with the motive to establish a theocratic state succeed. This is because our people fought together irrespective of religion, caste, creed or gender to overthrow the British imperialism when the RSS and its outfits not only did not fight against the British rather connived with them. Our constitution guarantees right to freedom of speech and life with dignity to all its citizens and these hard earned rights will not be allowed to be taken away. This was said by Com. Amar Jeet Kaur, national secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) while addressing a seminar to commemorate the victory over fascism and challenges & resistance to such tendencies in present-day India. She said that Fascism was at its peak in the 1930s in Germany, Italy and Japan. Supported by the corporate sector, rights of freedom were fully curbed and any kind of dissent was not allowed. This caused holocaust killing lakhs of people, the Jews, Communists, Socialists, Trade Unionists and ordinary people in Germany. Second world war resulted in the death of over 5.5 crore people. But ultimately these forces were defeated and 9th May is observed as the day of victory of fascism. Such tendencies are being witnessed in our country these days. The BJP has resorted to the Gobbelian theses of - "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it." The RSS guided BJP used this thesis during elections as well as during demonetization with the help of a section of media. But all the promises made have fallen flat; Rs.15 Lakh in every pocket has not been met with. The promise of the generation of 2 crore jobs has turned out to be totally false as only 1.35 lakhs could be generated. Price rise continues in the same way; corruption is at its peak and incidents like Vyapam in which 47 people have been killed; a case of fraud by Lalit Modi; Vijay Mallya's running away under the nose of the government are some big examples. To hide its failure there is all out effort to divert the issue in the name of Cow protection or building Ram Mandir. Prime Minister's rhetoric that demonetization will end terrorism has been totally belied. Kashmir is in the worst situation in its history. Borders have become tense. But the government is out to spread jingoism and war-mongering not realising that any war between India and Pakistan could lead to nuclear disaster.   Minorities are being persecuted in the name of cow protection, love jihad or religious conversions. Same is true of their approach towards Dalits. Now the reports that even Hindus taking cows for milking have been targeted. All those who give dissent are labelled as anti-nationals and are even eliminated. Universities are being targeted and students movements raising their demands are being dubbed as anti-nationals. But our country which has grown on values of democracy and respect for all religions and inhibits people from diverse ethnic groups will not let this continue for long. She further said that fundamentalists and communalists of each brand supplement each other’s efforts thus further endangering communal feelings among the majority community. This has to be fought back vociferously. But for this we need unity at the broader level she said.

Speaking on the occasion Com Kartar Singh Bowani District Secretary of the party said that such events need to be organised at several places.

Dr Arun Mitra Asstt. Secretary of the district unit of the CPI said that we have to struggle hard against the ideology of hatred as being spread by the RSS and it outfits and builds our country based on love and brotherhood of all human beings.

Com Ramesh Rattan City secretary said that party will organise such events at different places.     

Others who spoke on the occasion include Com D P Maur, Com Gurnam Sidhu, Com Gulzar Goria, Com Charan Sarabha and Com Kewal Singh Banwait. 

"These forces have turned patriotism into narrow nationalism"

Hidden agenda behind "nationalism" was exposed in the seminar

Ludhiana: 18 March 2017: (Pardeep Sharma IPTA//Punjab Screen)::

The forces in power who sided with the British during freedom struggle are now completely distorting the ideals for which great martyrs of our country laid down their lives. This was said by Prof. Jagmohan Singh while addressing a seminar organized by the Communist Party of India today under the presidentship of Com Charan Sarabha and Com Gurnam Gill at Shaheed Karnail Singh Isru Bhawan Ludhiana to commemorate and pay homage to the 87th martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. These forces have turned patriotism into narrow nationalism and are constantly working on the theory of Hitler to purge the minorities and all those who disagree with them. Killing of Dabolkar, Pansare, and Kulbargi are glaring examples of this. In addition killing of Akhlaq and merciless beating of Dalits in Una are some things unimagined by the martyrs who dreamt of a secular democratic India with socio-economic justice to all. When the people from all sections, classes including youth, women, workers and peasants of the whole country were up in arms against the British, the RSS and its outfits were eulogizing their masters. It is pertinent to mention here that their ideologue Golvalkar had called upon Hindus not waste energy against the British but to save it to fight against the Muslims, Christians and the Communists. It is an irony that Godse who killed Gandhi is being projected as a great person and even temples are being made in his memory. Savarkar, the only person whom they glorify for his going to Andaman Jail, had begged mercy from the British to release him so that he could work in unison with them, said Prof Jagmohan Singh. It is well known that Savarkar had given the theory of Hindus and Muslims as two separate nations, which had laid the basis of the partition of the country. Since peoples from all communities fought for the freedom of the country, the communal forces lost badly in the elections immediately after independence. But the capitalist mode of development was fraught with problems of inequality and injustice. A time came when the privy purses were abolished and banks and coal mines were nationalized. But all such pro-people steps were opposed by the RSS and its outfits. Addressing the meeting Com Kartar Singh Bowani, District Secretary of the Party said that these reactionary forces are working on the lines of Hitler who was built by the then corporate. Similarly, the present corporate is building Modi as a messiah for all ills. Dr. Arun Mitra, Asstt.Secretary said that the forces of Hindutva are speaking lies on the lines of Goebbels, the propaganda secretary of Hitler. Their lies are getting exposed. Despite all their efforts, they have not been able to include the name of Kanhaiya in the events at JNU. But the hounding of Gurmehar, daughter of a great martyr of this country, is a very serious matter which has to be condemned.   But India is not Germany. We have immense diversity which will save our country. Our people have an anti-imperialist history and history of assimilation. Com D P Mur Asstt. Secretary district unit cautioned that it is unfortunate that in spite of opposition by the secular and nationalist forces, the reactionary forces, under the leadership of Narinder Modi has come to power by managing the system. The examples of Goa and Manipur are clear cut defiance of the verdict given by the people. False slogans cannot solve the problems.  For more Pics Please Click Here

They will defeat such forces. City secretary of the CPI Com Ramesh Rattan said that there is a need for a broad consensus and constant movement to defeat these communal, obscurantist and parochial forces to save the Indian nation.

A book was written by Kanhaiya Kumar FROM BIHAR TO TIHAR was released on the occasion. For more Pics Please Click Here

Others who addressed include  Com Gurnam Sidhu, Dr. Gulzar Pandher, Com Kewal Banwait, Com Chamkaur Singh, Com Lalit Kumar, Com Kameshwar.

  For more Pics Please Click Here

Use of pellet guns should be immediately stopped--IDPD

Thu, Jul 28, 2016 at 4:52 PM

IDPD has also offered any medical help to the needy

Ludhiana: 28th July 2016: (Punjab Screen Bureau):

Courtesy Image

Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) has expressed anguish at the loss of precious human lives and injury in the ongoing violence in Kashmir. In a statement released IDPD has demanded that the use of pellet guns to control the crowed should be immediately stopped hence forthwith. The pellets can make a person infirm and even handicapped. This has happened in Kashmir where several people have lost their eye sight which has caused serious physical and mental trauma to the victims and the families. IDPD has offered any medical help to the needy as has been done in the past during the earthquake in 2005 and floods in 2014. We also appeal to all concerned to shun violence and sort out the issues through dialogue. Statement was issued by Dr S S Soodan (President), Dr Shakeel Ur Rahman (General Secretary) and Dr Arun Mitra (Sr. Vice President:.

CPI will do its best to foil the nefarious deigns

Sat, Jul 23, 2016 at 3:54 PM

CPI rally followed by procession at Ludhiana Railway Station

Ludhiana: 23rd July 2016: (Punjab Screen Bureau):

Starting from the death of Rohit Vemulla to merciless beating of poor Dalits by those connected with Sangh Parivar to the foul language used by the former Vice President of Uttar Pradesh BJP has thoroughly exposed the nefarious designs of the forces of Hindutva to split the society on caste lines. These incidents are not spontaneous, these are a reflection of the anti Dalit casteiest approach of the RSS and followers of its ideology of Hindutva. Various speakers speaking on the occasion of a rally followed by procession organized by the Communist Party of India (CPI) Ludhiana today at the Railway Station Ludhiana cautioned that these will result into splitting of the society on caste lines and religious beliefs which they very unashamedly want to use in the coming elections.

Dr Arun Mitra – Asst. Sec. said that since the Modi Led BJP government has come to power there has been a serious attempt to rewrite the history totally negating the contribution of the the congress and communists in the freedom struggle. Several BJP ruled state governments have removed the names of Jawahar Lal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi from the history books. The role of Bhagat Singh and his colleagues is being belittled and instead the name of  Damodar Savarkar who had begged mercy from the British and assured of his cooperation to the British for his release from the Andeman Nikobar jail is being   highlighted. Nathuram Godse, the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi is being eulogized. The universities are being made to be governed by the RSS ideologues while the progressive forces are being suppressed. The incidents of maligning the students and the teachers of JNU and then arresting Kanhiya Kumar on the basis of doctored video films has thoroughly exposed the designs of the present government.  Organizations affiliated to Sangh Parivar have been given free hand. Obscurantist thoughts are being propagated. It is unfortunate that the Prime Minister is citing the examples of plastic surgery in the ancient India whereby the head of animal could be sutured to the human body. Even the most advanced stem cell research is being highlighted to be present in the ancient India. 

Com D P Maur said that in the name of cow protection Akhlaq was lynched by these fundamentalists and now instead of punishing the culprits the family of Akhlaq is being framed. Those involved in the leather removal of the dead cows are being beaten and even forced to eat cow dung. Cases are being fabricated against them. Such incidents have happened even in Punjab but the Akali BJP government has turned a blind eye. He further said that the country’s sovereignty and integrity are in danger since the FDI has been allowed full scale even in the defense sector. Situation in Kashmir has deteriorated to the lowest level ever. Prices are soaring high and people are waiting for the Ache Din to come.

Dr Gulzar Singh Pandher said the CPI will do its best to foil the nefarious deigns of these forces. Law and order in the state is at its lowest ebb. Crime against all sections particularly women and the poor is on the rise. Police acts under pressure of their political masters so the justice is denied to them.

Others who addressed include Com Gurnam Gill, Com Vijay Kumar, Com Kuldip Binder, Com Jit Kumari,Com Anod Kumar, Com Feroze Master, Com Walaiti Khan, Com Iqbal Singh, Com Anil, Saroj, Ramchander, Ramchand, Tuntun. 

Punjab Khet Mazdoor Sabha participated in the nationwide strike

Fri, Jul 8, 2016 at 5:13 PM

Organised rallies at different places in the state 

Ludhiana: 8th July 2016: (Gulzar Goria//Punjab Screen):

The Punjab Khet Mazdoor Sabha Organised rallies at different places in the state and participated in the nationwide strike by the agriculture labour on 1st July for their demands. Hand bills were distributed during these events and the people were made aware of their rights which have been denied by successive governments. The agriculture workers struck their work and joined these rallies at Taran Taran, Nawasheher, Banga, Malerkotla, Muktsar, Vill Nathowal & Machiwara in Ludhiana, Mansa, Bhudlada, Kalasangian, Bathinda, Lambi, Amritsar, Vill Shatrana in Patiala, Jalandhar, Pathankot and Abohar. Various state and district level leaders of the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Sahba addressed these rallies which included Com Daryao Singh, Gulzar Gorai, Swarn Singh Nagoke, Surjeet Sohi Adv, Nanak Chand Lambi, Rishi Pal Khubban, Preetam Singh Niamatpur, Devi Kumari, Gurdeep Singh Gurwali, Bant Singh Brar, Ramlal, Kulwant singh Pandherkheri, Hari Singh Machiwara, Surinder Kumar Bhani, Krishan Chauhan Mansa.

Gulzar Goria is Gen.Secy of Punjab Khet Mazdoor Sabha and his contat number is- 9463809002

CPI protest rally against Ludhiana Police

Break govt., police and mafia nexus to save Punjab

Ludhiana: 23 June 2016: (Punjab Screen Bureau):

The Communist Party of India (CPI) in a rally held on 23.06.2016 at Mini Secretariat has called upon the people of Punjab to raise their voice and break the  government, police and mafia nexus to save the state from further deterioration. 

Com Kartar Singh Bowani Distt. Sec. CPI at the rally alleged that it is now a well known fact that all sorts of mafia including the drug mafia, sand mafia, land mafia  are being  propagated and supported by the government and protected by the police at the behest of their political masters. He referred to the statement of the former DGP Prisons Shri Shashi Kant at a national TV channel that he had several times brought the issue to the notice of the government  about the involvement of senior politicians and police officers in the drug peddling but no serious cognizance has been taken.  

Com D P Maur – Astt. Sec. CPI said that it is a sorry state of affairs that the police is working in a totally partisan non professional manner succumbing to the blatant political interference and the pressure of influential people. Therefore the law and order situation is continuously worsening. No citizen feels safe even during the day time.  He said that law and order in the state has deteriorated to the worst level ever because the police has become a virtual tool of the political masters. This is dangerous for the democratic setup. 

Dr Arun Mitra – Assistant Secy. CPI Ludhiana said that the people are so much afraid that they do not want to go out at night because of the fear of the anti social elements. This is particularly so in the outskirts of the city where the poor workers live. Much needs to be done to control the law and order. The drug peddling is at its peak and large number of youth is being lured and forced into drug abuse. Once they get addicted they are forced to commit crime. People do not report about the peddlers to the police because they fear that their confidentiality will be maintained. The case of Abhishek son of Dr Banerjee is still fresh in the minds of the people. He demanded that death due to drug abuse should be considered as a murder because no person wants to die because of drug but he pushed into such situation by the peddlers. 

Com Ramesh Rattan – City Secy said that mafias in Punjab were unknown till a few years back when the Akali BJP government started patronizing them. There are gangs in the state who could be  used to kill any opponent. The hue and cry by the government, the Akali Dal and their outfits and also by the outfits of the RSS against the film “Udta Punjab” has thoroughly exposed them. But the people has now understood their designs and they would be soon shown the door. 

Com Gurnam Singh Sidhu – Asstt. Secretary of the city unit of the party said that already there are 18 cases which he has brought to the notice of the police but no justice has been done instead the police is supporting the accused in many cases. 

Others who addressed the include Comrades Kewal Singh Banwait, Valaiti Khan, Gurnam Gill, Chamkaur Singh, Kuldeep Singh Binder, Randhir singh, Tiger Singh

For more detail contact  CPI leader Comrade Gurnam Sidhu M:9216810244