Nursing staff protesting at the Civil Hospital in Sirsa during a Statewide strike on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement
Nursing officers across Haryana held a two-hour symbolic strike on Tuesday to protest against the alleged derogatory remarks by State Commission for Women chairperson Renu Bhatia against staff at the Civil Hospital in Kurukshetra.
Acting on a call by the Nursing Officers’ Welfare Association, Haryana, the staff members observed a ‘pen-down’ strike from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in government hospitals. To avoid disruption to critical care, one nursing officer was deployed in every emergency and general ward during the protest hours.
Ms. Bhatia had made the alleged remarks during her official inspection at the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Civil Hospital in Kurukshetra on June 7. She was reviewing the case of an alleged rape of a 15-year-old girl by a doctor. She reprimanded the hospital administration and nursing staff over security lapses that left the minor unattended.
‘Will intensify protest’
The association has demanded Ms. Bhatia’s resignation and threatened to escalate protests if no action is taken. A second two-hour pen-down strike with suspension of services is planned for Wednesday. It has also threatened to launch a full-scale strike on June 11, halting even emergency services in the State.
The protesting nursing officers said Ms. Bhatia’s alleged comments were an “insult” to staff who serve patients day and night and risked their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic as ‘Corona Warriors’.
“If the chairperson of the Women’s Commission herself humiliates women, whom can we expect respect from?” one protesting officer said.
The Janvadi Mahila Samiti and the Centre of Indian Trade Unions also condemned Ms. Bhatia’s remarks and sought her removal, calling the conduct unbecoming of a constitutional post meant to uphold dignity.
The striking nursing officers have also demanded an impartial inquiry into the Kurukshetra incident and action against those found guilty.
The association has written to the Chief Minister seeking an apology from Ms. Bhatia.
Published – June 10, 2026 01:11 am IST
