New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal demanded that all doctors and nurses of India fighting against the Covid-19 pandemic should be honoured with the prestigious Bharat Ratna this year. In a letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party supremo said that this would be a true tribute and the whole country would be happy with this.
Taking to Twitter, Kejriwal said, "This year ‘Indian Doctor’ should get Bharat Ratna. ‘Indian Doctor’ means all doctors, nurses and paramedics. This will be a true tribute to the martyred doctors. This will be the honour of those who serve without worrying about their life and family. The whole country will be happy with this."
According to media reports, Kejriwal in letter to PM Modi urged to tweak rules and confer the healthcare professionals with Bharat Ratna.
Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia also supported the idea and said that the doctors, nurses and paramedical staff of the country have saved the lives of people by risking their own lives, and they should definitely get due respect.
As reported by the Indian Medical Association on June 30, as many as 798 doctors lost lives during the virulent second wave of deadly Coronavirus. The highest death toll was 128 in Delhi, followed by 115 in Bihar, 79 in Uttar Pradesh, 62 in West Bengal, and 51 in Tamil Nadu. Notably, a total of 736 doctors had died during the first wave of infection.