Online petition seeks health minister's removal from Cabinet

A petition has been initiated on a website, urging the Governor of Karnataka to remove Health Minister K R Ramesh Kumar.

The petition on change.org started three days ago and has garnered more than 4,500 signatures.

It states that the minister is “incompetent, highly corrupt and abuses health professionals”. It reads: “He, being our representative (government servant), is a disgrace to the government and has brought disrespect to the position he holds and is trying to cover up his corrupt practices and incompetence by abusing the very medical profession that he needs to lead, guide
and promote.”

Dr Ravindra R, the secretary of Private Hospitals’ and Nursing Homes’ Association (PHANA), who started the petition, told DH: “The minister has compared doctors to prostitutes, barbers and pickpockets more than once. This was reported by the media several times.”

According to Ravindra, doctors approached Kumar many times, requesting him not to use such a language. He added that doctors from various private institutions’ associations would soon approach Governor, Vajubhai Vala and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the matter.  The minister did not respond to calls from DH.