Health minister provokes outrage in India after describing cancer as 'divine justice' 

Himanta Biswa Sarma
Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has apologised for his controversial comments on cancer Credit: AFP / Getty 

The health minister of an Indian state has provoked anger after describing cancer as “divine justice”.

Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is the minister for the Assam state in north western India, said the “background” of some cancer sufferers led him to believe that disease was a punishment from God for “sin”.

The comments, made at an official function in Guwahati on Wednesday, have elicited an angry response from cancer sufferers and their relatives in the country that struggles with awareness about the condition.

Being quoted in the Times of India, Mr Sarma said: “God makes us suffer when we sin. Sometimes we come across young men getting inflicted with cancer or young men meeting with accidents.

“If you observe the background you will come to know that it's divine justice. Nothing else. We have to suffer that divine justice.”

The minister later apologised to cancer patients over his comments in a statement posted on Twitter, but claimed his speech was “quoted out of context”.

“I am pained at the unpleasant controversy created by people wanting to derive political mileage out of it,” he wrote.

“I tender my apology to all cancer patients and their families who may have been hurt by this.”

He added in a statement: “In their bid to trivialise and sensationalise, no one is willing to look at content of my entire speech …

“I lost my father, best friends and relatives to cancer. Everyone is Assam and outside knows my passion to work on containing cancer through the best possible treatment facilities including free chemotherapy.

“While I am not against science, I strongly believe there is strong merit in spirituality and teachings contained in Bhagavad Gita (Hindu scripture) as well as those of our ancestors.”  

Himanta Biswa Sarma
Himanta Biswa Sarma said his comments were 'quoted out of context' Credit: Getty 

The minister's comments prompted an angry response from people in the country who have been affected by cancer.

 A report last year by the Indian Council of Medical showed that low awareness about cancer meant that only around 12 per cent of suffers sought treatment in the early stages of the disease. 

License this content