Ram Mandir Inauguration: AIIMS Reverses Holiday Order Following Uproar Over Half-Day on January 22

A Contentious Choice Is Met With Criticism
Some opposition politicians and netizens have sharply criticized the government’s decision to temporarily shut these hospitals, criticizing its effort to interrupt vital services. The decision to put a political event ahead of public health services has generated discussion.

Users of social media sites are expressing their perspectives on the contentious decision, turning these platforms into forums for public discourse. The administration has come under fire for putting a political event ahead of the continuous provision of essential healthcare services.

Leaders of the Opposition Slam AIIMS Closing
The federal government-run hospitals in Delhi, Safdarjung Hospital, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, and AIIMS have announced that they will be closed on January 22 till 2:30 pm. The decision is ascribed to the Pran Pratistha ritual held at Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. During this time, all services—aside from vital and emergency services—will be suspended.

OPDs at AIIMS resume on January 22.
The Outpatient Department will continue to be open tomorrow, Monday, January 22, to see patients who have appointments, according to ANI. In light of the consecration ceremony of the Ayodhya Ram temple on Monday, the AIIMS-Delhi has rescinded its intention to remain closed for half of the day, according to sources cited by NDTV. The renowned health center faced criticism for its choice, with several pointing out potential problems for patients in need of immediate care.

Reactions to the Notice: On January 22, AIIMS, Delhi, published an official notice designating the day as a half-day vacation lasting till 2:30 pm. Notably, Sundays and gazetted holidays like Christmas and Eid are when OPDs are often closed. Furthermore, according to reports, all emergency patients are handled normally in all three hospitals.

Opposition leaders have expressed disapproval of the action; Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has expressed worries about the interruption of health services caused by the shutdown. Saket Gokhale, a Rajya Sabha MP for the Trinamool Congress (TMC), brought attention to the difficulty that patients experience while waiting for appointments at AIIMS gates, emphasizing the possible effects on the underprivileged and those in critical condition.

Saket Gokhale, a Rajya Sabha MP for the Trinamool Congress (TMC), responded to the notice by saying that “literally people are sleeping outside in the cold at AIIMS gates waiting for an appointment.” “The poor & dying can wait because priority is given to Modi’s desperation for cameras & PR,” Gokhale said.

Priyanka Chaturvedi, a Shiv Sena (UBT) MP, stated, “Hello, everyone. Kindly avoid having a medical emergency on the 22nd, and if you must, plan it for after 2pm since AIIMS Delhi will be closed to celebrate the arrival of Maryada Purushottam Ram.” “I wonder if Lord Ram would concur that health services are interrupted to greet him,” she said. “Hey Ram, Hey Ram!”

The move incited a harsh response from Congress spokesman Shama Mohamed, who commented, “It is beyond belief that patients’ lives are being put in danger, just because @narendramodi wants uninterrupted coverage of his political event.”