Why are doctors demanding a public apology from Rahul Gandhi over his Biden remark?

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi has been asked to apologise. This time it’s over his remarks on the cognitive abilities of US President Joe Biden.

Gandhi’s comment did not sit well with a section of the doctor’s community in the country. Now, they are demanding a public apology from him.

But what is the whole issue? Let us understand it in detail.

What did Rahul Gandhi say?

While campaigning for the Congress during the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating that it appeared he was suffering “memory loss” like 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 Maharashtra’s Amravati on Saturday (November 16).

The comment has been criticised widely for its insensitivity. Several people have shown their disappointment over his remark.

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What are the medical practitioners’ demands?

All India President of the National Medicos Organisation Bharat (NMO-Bharat) C B Tripathi has now written a strongly-worded letter to former Congress chief and his mother, Sonia Gandhi demanding an apology from him for his ‘disparaging’ remarks. He further said that Gandhi’s comments perpetuate harmful stereotypes about ageing and cognitive health.

Tripathi said in the letter, “Such statements on a public platform risk perpetuating misinformation, potentially shaping public perceptions in ways that could negatively impact the understanding and treatment of actual patients.” The NMO-Bharat is deeply troubled by the remarks attributed to Rahul Gandhi, “which appeared to disparage the cognitive abilities of the President of the United States, Joe Biden”, he said.

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He further said that Gandhi’s comments go against the Indian values of respecting seniors. He added, “Rahul Gandhi’s comments also veer into ageist territory, perpetuating harmful stereotypes about ageing and cognitive health.” The letter further said, " This is not just disrespectful to the individuals targeted but also to countless senior citizens in India who contribute meaningfully 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 would know how damaging such narratives can be, not only for the individuals targeted but also for the broader discourse in society. This gives us confidence that you, of all people, can understand why your son’s remarks were both unfortunate and misguided,” the letter said.

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“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 stigmatise or mock,” Tripathi said.

Why did Joe Biden drop out of the US election?

US President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race in July this year following his disastrous debate with Donald Trump.

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

The concern over his age and mental health spread to such an extent that he had to drop out of the election altogether with Vice President Kamala Harris being declared the next Democratic candidate.

With inputs from PTI