Netas and chamchas allowed, relatives are not

While hospitals impose restrictions on entry of common citizens visiting blast victims, publicity-hungry politicians and their entourages enter and leave at will. Chandran Iyer reports...

While hospitals impose restrictions on entry of common citizens visiting blast victims, publicity-hungry politicians and their entourages enter and leave at will. Chandran Iyer reports...

When Michael (name changed), a friend of Jack Huang, a victim of the German Bakeryu00a0 blast, tried to visit him at the Sassoon Hospital, the hospital authorities did not let him in. However, politicians with their usual entourage of hangers-on were not stopped at all.

Anita (name changed), who came to meet an injured relative at Jehangir Hospital, was similarly stopped. "We are being stopped from meeting our loved ones by hospital authorities who have no problems allowing politicians who come here to shed crocodile tears in front of the media," said Anita.

Haal kaisa hai janaab ka? BJP president Nitin Gadkari and senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj leave Budhrani Hospital in Pune after visiting German Bakery blast victims. Pic/Nikhil Ghorpade

Michael and Anita are not alone. While Congress, BJP and Shiv Sena leaders have been dropping in with crowds of supporters at various hospitals where the victims are being treated, relatives and friends are being restricted from visiting. Most leaders have made it a point to offer bytes to TV news crews parked outside the hospitals.

BJP leader Prakash Javadekar visits victims of Pune blast. Pic/ Nikhil Ghorpade

Dr Prasad Mogarikar, medical superintendent of Jehangir Hospital, said politicians and political parties need to introspect and exercise restrain. "What we have been trying to do at our end is ensure the visitors do not get too close to the patients," said Mogarikar.

BJP leader Gopinath Munde. Pic/ Nikhil Ghorpade

While the spokesperson of Ruby Hospital said no patient had complained so far about visits by politicians, Dr P S Pawar, the medical superintendent of Sassoon Hospital, refused to comment.