Karat: Indian’s death in Ireland a crime
CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat on Thursday described the death of Indian national Savita Halappanavar in Ireland as a culpable crime, and asked the Indian government to intervene with the Irish authorities and see that justice is delivered to her family members.
The 31-year-old Indian woman died in Ireland from blood poisoning after doctors allegedly refused to perform an abortion on grounds that as a Catholic-dominant country, it forbids such an act.
Ms Karat said the case involving the death of an Indian woman in Ireland shows the utter insensitivity of governments who want to control bodies of women in the name of religion.
“This case in Ireland is particularly shocking, because it is nothing but a culpable crime. In the first place, no religion mandates that you watch a woman dying and you refuse to give her an abortion, which is what she needed. So, this is a culpable crime,” Ms Karat said.
“And certainly the government of India, since the young woman was an Indian citizen, should and must intervene with the government of Ireland on this issue, and see that justice is brought at least to the family members,” she added. Echoing similar sentiments, the BJP also asked Indian government to take up the issue with the Ireland authorities and provide justice to Savita’s family. Mahila Morcha chief Smriti Irani wrote a letter to external affairs minister Salman Khurshid demanding the government of India take action on the matter.
“I am of the belief that no religion permits the murder of an innocent woman. The hospital knowingly endangered the life of young Savita (Halappanavar). It is shocking that the doctors chose to let their religious beliefs over-ride the Hippocratic Oath (oath of obligations of proper conduct doctors take before starting practice)”, Ms Irani said in her letter.
The Delhi Catholic Archdiocese said the mother’s life should not have been risked though abortion was a complete no for them.
“In a case when a mother’s life is in danger, save her life and while saving the mother if something happens to the baby in the womb then no doctor or mother should be held responsible as their intention was to save a life and not to end a life.
“It is important that the intention should be to save the life,” Rev. Dominique Imanuel, spokesperson of Delhi Catholic Archdiocese, said.
Halappanavar’s parents demanded an “international probe”.
Post new comment