SURAT: Tensions escalated in Surat after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) corporator Vipul Suhagia was arrested following an altercation at Smeer Hospital. Suhagia reportedly lost his temper when an associate of his was made to wait in line and allegedly slapped a computer operator responsible for creating Ayushmaan cards.
Following the incident, the aggrieved operator lodged a complaint, leading to the AAP councilor's arrest by Varachha police. This arrest, in turn, prompted a significant gathering of AAP councilors, workers, and the Leader of Opposition outside the Varachha police station. The protesters, singing the Ram Dhun, demanded the immediate release of Vipul Suhagia and even threatened to surround the police station until their demands were met.
Given the swelling crowd and potential for further unrest, the police detained the protesting AAP members.
Leader of Opposition, Payal Sakaria, commented on the incident, criticizing the hospital staff for not prioritizing patients' needs and instead, getting involved in unnecessary confrontations. She further questioned the presence of the contractual worker at the scene. Condemning the police action, Sakaria insinuated that the Bharatiya Janata Party's influence was evident in the forceful detainment of AAP members and workers by the police.
The incident brings to light the ongoing political tensions in the region and the challenges faced by administrative and healthcare professionals amidst such confrontations.
