BJP MP Ananth Kumar Hegde caught on camera beating up doctor at Karnataka hospital

BJP has distanced itself from the MP, saying the party is not accountable for an individual’s actions.

news Violence

In a shocking incident, unbecoming of a parliamentarian, BJP MP Ananth Kumar Hegde was captured on camera attacking a doctor at a private hospital in Karwar in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka.

The CCTV video shows Hedge holding a doctor by his neck and pushing him into the corridor of the hospital, even as a nurse attempts to intervene. The MP then goes on to punch the doctor in the face. While the video footage showed the MP attacking one doctor, ANI reported that three doctors, Dr Madhukeshwara Jeevi, Dr Balachandra and Dr Rahul Marshakar, were attacked by Hegde for not taking proper care of his mother, who had been admitted to the hospital.

The incident took place at the TSS Hospital in Karwad on Monday. Visuals show the three doctors with injuries to their head, lip and neck.

No police complaint has yet been registered against Hegde.

Condemning the attack, BJP spokesperson Go Madhusudhan said the party had taken cognisance of the video. “It is an individual’s action for which the party is not accountable. It is definitely wrong on the part of the MP to do so,” he said. He also added that the BJP would seek an explanation from Hegde and would take action against him based on his side of the story.

This is not the first complaint of wrongdoing against the MP. In March 2016, Hegde was booked for a hate speech after allegedly making derogatory remarks against Islam. The five-time MP’s comments allegedly equating Islam with terrorism drew protests from Muslim groups.

He has, in the past, also been booked for rioting, unlawful assembly and promoting enmity among groups when he was alleged to be a part of a mob during riots in Bhatkal in 1993.

Watch here: