Representational Image. | Photo Credit: PTI

Key Highlights The government of India lashed out at the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom for claiming that Covid-19 patients were being segregated based on their religions at the Gujarat hospital The Ministry of External Affairs hit out at the USCIRF and said that “it must stop adding religious colour to our national goal of fighting the pandemic”

Ahmedabad: Rumours can lead to serious trouble and at a time when the country, and the whole world, is grappling with a pandemic, fake news can trigger unwanted panic and stoke uncalled for violence.

In a similar incident, a doctor from Gujarat lashed out at hatemongers and fake news peddlers, claiming that he was misquoted by some media outlets as saying that there were separate wards for Muslim and Hindu coronavirus patients.

“The news which has appeared in some dailies has misquoted me, that “we have made separate wards for Muslims and Hindus”. This report in my name is false and baseless and I condemn it,” Professor GH Rathod, Surgeon at Civil Hospital, Asarwa in Ahmedabad, said in his official statement.

Clarifying his stand further, he said, “The patients are admitted and kept in different/respective ward, based on their male, female, children status, based on their medical condition, based on their positive/negative/suspect Corona status, based on their condition (critical/serious), based on pre-existing co-morbid condition like diabetes, hypertension, heart diseases, kidney diseases, etc., after thorough discussion between treating doctors, in the best interest of patients.”

The news which has appeared in some dailies has misquoted me, that "we have made separate wards for Muslims & Hindus." This report in my name is false and baseless and I condemn it: Professor GH Rathod, Surgeon, Civil Hospital, Asarwa in Ahmedabad. #Gujarat #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/yRfNcj5WFo — ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2020

India slams USCIRF

The government of India too slammed the act and lashed out at the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom for claiming that Covid-19 patients were being segregated based on their religions at a Gujarat hospital.

Calling it a myth, the government said, “Myth: USCIRF says Covid patients are being segregated on religious lines in a Gujarat hospital, citing a news item. Reality: Unfortunate that this claim is based on a news item, already found fake and denied by the state government.”

#PIBFactCheck :

Myth : USCIRF says #COVID patients are being segregated on religious lines in a Gujarat hospital, citing a news item

Reality: Unfortunate that this claim is based on a news item, already found fake and denied by the State govt. Read here: https://t.co/iIkrv4kj2T — PIB India #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) April 15, 2020

Earlier in the day, the Gujarat health department had clarified that no segregation was being done in the civil hospital on the basis of religion. “Coronavirus patients are being treated based on symptoms, severity etc., and according to treating doctors’ recommendations,” the statement said.

The Ministry of External Affairs too hit out at the USCIRF and said that “it must stop adding religious colour to our national goal of fighting the pandemic”.

“As if its peremptory commentary on religious freedom in India is not enough, the USCIRF is now spreading misguided reports on the professional medical protocols followed to deal with spread of COVID19 in India. It must stop adding religious colour to our national goal of fighting the pandemic and distract from larger efforts. No segregation is being done in civil hospitals on the basis of religion, as clarified by the Gujarat Government,” MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said in his statement.