Cancer is ‘Divine justice’ row: Assam Heath minister offers unconditional apology

A day after his controversial remarks on people suffering from cancer, which sparked massive controversy across the country, the Assam Health minister offered his unconditional apology to those hurt by his statement.

The Assam minister said that, his speech on divine justice and Karmic deficiency is being quoted out of context.

“In their bid to trivialize and sensationalise, no one is looking at content of my whole speech and intent. It was said in the context of helping poor students of Government schools and request to teachers not to neglect them. It was also a message to indicate district eduction officers not to harass teachers,” Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

The Assam minister accused that, a section of national media, local media and few in Congress party are now playing the story.

“I am pained to say, will cause agony among cancer patients and their relatives. I lost my father, best friends and relatives to cancer. And everyone in Assam and outside know my passion to work on containing cancer through best possible treatment facilities including free chemotherapy, financial scheme to help up to Rs 2 lakh to cancer patient, one state-of-art cancer hospital in Guwahati with PET CT, banning chewing tobacco and now starting a grid of hospital in across Assam are some of my humble contribution as health minister of assam,” Sarma said.

“A philosophical discourse, designed purely to help poor students, is being misused and which in turn is causing avoidable anxiety among surviving cancer patients and their close ones. I still believe divine justice will catch up with each and every one us for trying to cash in on someone else’s pain to gain political mileage and cheap publicity. I reiterate at no point my statement was intended to cause any pain to cancer patients. However, if owing to the blatant distortions, it has caused any anxiety and problems to anyone, I hereby offer my unconditional apology for the pain,” the Assam Health minister said.

Himanta Biswa Sarma further said that, detachment from life, karmic action and rebirth are some of core principles of Hindu philosophy developed over last 5000 years, that western thought process can never dominate or dilute the spirit.

“So many oncologists in TV studio are citing reason for cancer? But why it is happening to certain individuals and not to other in spite of living under same environment. Science has not been able to give answer to many of our perennial queries and therefore at our last moment, we are asked to pray God,” the Assam minister said.

Himanta Biswa Sarma said that, he is not against science and strongly believe there is strong merit in spirituality and teachings contained in Bhagvad Gita as well as those of our ancestors.

“The purity of the philosophy and its essence help us in bringing sanity and balance in life. I once again offer my apology to those who might have been hurt owing to this absolutely mindless controversy triggered by few political desperado,” the Assam minister said.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)