Former Haryana Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, accused the Manohar Lal Khattar Government of being insensitive to the ongoing agitation of medical students in the state against its bond policy.

Pointing out that the students are agitating for a month but the government remained indifferent and callous, Hooda said here on Friday, “In PGI Rohtak, students are on hunger strike and protest, but the government has chosen to remain indifferent to their protests, and it seems that the suffering of the students makes no difference to the government. Now, resident doctors and other medical staff have also come in support of the students. Due to their strike, patients are facing a lot of problems.” Hooda said.

The Congress leader said instead of ending this deadlock, the government is continuously engaged in trying to escalate this into a confrontation. “Instead of accepting the legitimate demand of the students, the government is busy threatening them. Students are being threatened with expulsion from the hostel and an FIR against them,” he added.

“Strict bond policy like Haryana is not applicable in any state of the country. No bond policy (for medical students) is applicable in 10 states of the country. The 17 states that have implemented the bond policy have also guaranteed government jobs to their students. In all the states the bond amount and tenure is less than Haryana. In almost all the states, the bond is between the government and the students. Whereas in Haryana, a provision has been made to take loan from the bank,” Hooda said.

The former CM said poor and middle class children will be deprived of medical education due to the imposition of bond and Rs 40 lakh fee in government educational institutions.

Hooda said the government should understand the pain of these students, their parents and the patients who are facing problems due to the strike. “This problem should be resolved as soon as possible. I would raise the issue in the coming assembly session,” he added.

As per the bond policy, the MBBS students studying in government institutions have to execute a Rs 36.40 lakh tripartite bond at the time of admissions. This has been done to ensure that they serve for the government for seven years.