The Hindu : Front Page : Manmohan expresses regret

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Thursday, Nov 05, 2009
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Manmohan expresses regret

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday expressed regret to the family of a patient, who died for want of timely medical attention due to traffic restrictions during Dr. Singh’s visit to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh on Tuesday.

Taking note of the inconvenience caused to the public by the security restrictions imposed during VVIP movements, Dr. Singh said he had issued instructions to ensure that the authorities were “more sensitive” to the concerns of the common man while making security arrangements.

In a letter to the 32-year old patient’s wife, he said: “I am writing to you to express my profound sense of sadness at the death of your husband Shri Sumit Verma yesterday [Tuesday]. I understand that he could not get access to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, in time because of the restrictions in place for my visit there. This is something I deeply regret. I have issued instructions, so that in future the authorities are more sensitive to the concerns of the common man, while imposing such restrictions for reasons of security.”

Verma’s family said they were shunted from pillar to post by security personnel despite the patient’s critical condition. The hospital, however, claimed that he was brought dead.

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