Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Says Cancer is Divine Justice For Sins, P Chidambaram Mocks Him - JPKee.com

Guwahati, November 23: Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has stoked a controversy by saying that some people suffer from life-threatening diseases such as cancer because of sins committed in the past which he called “divine justice”.

“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,” Sarma said at a function organised for distribution of appointment letters to teachers.

“In this lifetime or in our previous life, or perhaps my father or mother… perhaps that young man did not do but his father has done something wrong. It is mentioned even in Gita, Bible about the outcome of one’s actions. No point in being sad… all will get the outcome of this life’s actions in this life only. That divine justice always will be there. Nobody can escape the divine justice that will happen,” he said.

Sarma’s remarks drew sharp reactions from leaders across the political circle. Senior Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram tweeted, “‘Cancer is divine justice for sins’ says Assam Minister Sarma. That is what switching parties does to a person.”

‘Cancer is divine justice for sins’ says Assam Minister Sharma. That is what switching parties does to a person.

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) November 22, 2017

Sarma left Congress and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of Assam Assembly elections in 2016.

Backing Chidambaram, another Congress leader Debabratta Saikia said, “It is unfortunate that the health minister has made such a remark on cancer patients hurting their feelings. As he has made the remark publicly, the minister should also apologise for it publicly.”

AIUDF leader Aminul Islam said that the state Health Minister made this remark to cover up his failure to control the spread of cancer in the state. “He has given up, he can’t control,” he said.

However, state-run Dr B Barooah Cancer Institute’s Medical Superintendent Dr BB Borthakur sought to downplay Sarma’s remarks.

“I don’t think the minister made the remark on scientific basis but in a social context as I understand. I don’t think it is a matter to be made into a controversy. It is not a matter to be given so much importance,” he said.

With inputs from PTI

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Author - Vikash Kumar