** We strongly condemned ABP News reporting " AYUSH Doctors as Jholachap" **

To whom it may concern

We always believed that Mr. Dibang is an honest reporter and ABP News is unbiased channel , but unfortunately just to sensationalise the news u denoted all doctors other than MBBS as jholacchap doctors in ur show JAN MAN telecasted at 9.30 on 18-20 july. Mr. Dibang sounded as mouth piece of MCI just to propagate their disrespect to all other doctors of different fields. We the AYUSH practitioners strongly condemn this and wish to highlight certain facts for ur knowledge:-

1. The AYUSH doctors possess legitimate and recognised medical degree by Govt. of India. A mandatory pre-medical test conducted by state govt. needs to be cleared by the aspirant to get admission to 5 and half year course of BAMS/BUMS/BHMS/BSMS.

2. Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha are also denoted as INDIAN SYSTEM OF MEDICINES which are the oldest system of medicines in India. Acharya Sushruta- an Ayurvedic surgeon is still designated as Father of SURGERY as well as Plastic surgery , this can be confirmed by modern medical books also. Many principles of surgery are still followed by modern surgery.

3. There are approximately 250 ayurvedic medical colleges governed by CCIM and there are 65000 approx. ayurvedic doctors in India.

4. You quoted WHO report but ignored that AYUSH is now a
recognised health care system in WHO after recent agreement between AYUSH ministry and WHO.

5. 70% rural population is ably served by AYUSH practitioners where MBBS refuse to serve. Although we only get just about 3% of the total health budget of the country.

6. In many states AYUSH doctors are serving in Govt. PHC also, where this MCI doesn't call them JHOLACCHAP because they need their services. It's funny that nobody has issues regarding Cross- pathy practices there. If cross-pathy practise is Quackery, then it is same for MBBS people practising herbal drugs without any knowledge. But ironically nobody has objections there. They freely prescribe herbal liver tonics, aphrodisiacs, brain tonics, pediatric drugs without any issues.

7. How can u assume that every AYUSH doctor who prescribe any allopathic drug is illegally doing so , without even knowing that it is legally allowed in states like UP, Maharashtra, Haryana, etc. Majority of doctors still practice their own pathy.

To conclude it, we just want to convey that being responsible news channel you should not propagate the agenda of 1 lobby, rather show both sides of coin. Please do proper research and just verify the facts before denoting any qualified doctor as Jholacchap. This is a derogatory remark which has badly hurt the dignity of AYUSH doctors in society. So, it is strongly requested and warned that you should correct this statement and show proper factual picture before the viewers, otherwise our fraternity will be bound to approach proper authorities including AYUSH ministry to do the needful.

We want an Apology from ABP News Channel in their Prime Time