Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi was asked to apologize. This time, that’s the end of his comments on the cognitive abilities of American President Joe Biden.

Gandhi’s comment did not go down well with a section of the country’s medical community. Today, they are demanding a public apology from him.

But what’s the big deal? Let’s understand it in detail.

What did Rahul Gandhi say?

While campaigning for the Congress in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying he seemed to be suffering from “loss of memory” as the “former president” of the United States. referring to Biden, the outgoing President of the United States of America. The incident took place during an election rally in Amravati, Maharashtra on Saturday (November 16).

The comment was widely criticized for being insensitive. Several people expressed their disappointment with his remark.

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What are the doctors’ requests?

National Bharat Physicians Organization (NMO-Bharat) All India President CB Tripathi has now written a strong letter to the former Congress leader and his mother Sonia Gandhi, demanding an apology from him for his remarks “derogatory”. He added that Gandhi’s comments perpetuate harmful stereotypes about aging and cognitive health.

Tripathi said in the letter: “Such statements on a public platform risk perpetuating misinformation, which has the potential to shape public perceptions in a way that could negatively impact the understanding and treatment of actual patients. » NMO-Bharat is deeply troubled by comments attributed to Rahul Gandhi, “which appear to denigrate the cognitive abilities of United States President Joe Biden,” it said.

He added that Gandhi’s comments go against Indian values ​​of respect for the elderly. He added: “Rahul Gandhi’s comments also veer into ageist territory, perpetuating harmful stereotypes about aging and cognitive health. » The letter adds: “This is not only disrespectful to those targeted, but also to the countless elderly people in India who contribute significantly to society despite health challenges. »

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“Mrs Gandhi, you have personally been a victim of such health-related rumours, misinformation and allegations. You know how damaging such narratives can be, not only to the targeted individuals but also to the broader discourse in society. This gives us confidence that you, among others, can understand why your son’s remarks were both unfortunate and misguided,” the letter said.

“On behalf of the medical community, we urge Mr Gandhi to reflect on his remarks, issue a public apology and refrain from making such insensitive comments in the future. Political dialogue should uplift and unite, not stigmatize or mock,” Tripathi said.

Why did Joe Biden withdraw from the US elections?

US President Joe Biden has withdrawn from the presidential race in July this year following his disastrous debate with Donald Trump.

Biden’s performance in the debate was widely criticized, with commentators pointing out that he often seemed to lose his train of thought, gave disjointed answers, appeared fragile and spoke in a hoarse voice. Additionally, he struggled to remember key statistics and failed to clearly present his views on several topics, leaving many observers concerned about his ability to express his opinions coherently.

Concern over his age and mental health became so widespread that he had to withdraw from the election altogether, with Vice President Kamala Harris declared the next Democratic nominee.

With contributions from PTI