‘Malicious, unfortunate’: Army slams critics; clarifies on Leh hospital visited by PM Modi

The clarification issued by the Indian Army clearly states that the facility which PM Modi visited is part of the crisis expansion capacity of 100 beds and is very much a part of the General Hospital complex  

New Delhi: As several people doubted the medical facility treating the injured soldiers after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Leh, the Army has issued a clarification on Saturday (July 4).

“There have been malicious and unsubstantiated accusations in some quarters regarding the status of the facility visited by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during his visit to the General Hospital at Leh on July 03, 2020,” the Army said.

The Army added, “It is unfortunate that aspersions are being cast on how our brave Armed Forces are treated. The Armed Forces give the best possible treatment to their personnel.”

It further said, “It is clarified that the said facility is part of the Crisis Expansion capacity of 100 beds and is very much part of the General Hospital complex.”

“The COVID-19 protocol had necessitated some wards of the General Hospital to be converted into isolation facilities. Hence, this hall which otherwise was normally used as a Training Audio Video Hall was converted into a ward ever since the hospital was also designated as COVID treatment hospital.

“The injured braves have been kept there since their arrival from Galwan to ensure quarantine from COVID areas. The Chief of Army Staff General M M Naravane and the Army Commander have also visited the injured braves in the same location,” the Army added.

The sudden visit of PM Modi to Ladakh in the wake of Galwan clashes caught everyone by surprise. Modi visited injured soldiers and even gave them a pep talk, reassuring them that the entire nation was behind them.