India’s health minister says it all!

After Pranab Mukherjee, Ghulam Nabi Azad is Congress' chief firefighter and strategist. From Kerala to Kashmir, from Telangana to 10 Janpath, Azad has been safeguarding the party's interest. In 2009, he was awarded with the health ministry during the second term of Manmohan Singh government. Immediately after taking over, he faced a number of problems including outbreak of bird and swine flu. While many acknowledge that he's successfully dealt with the H1N1 crises, his politically incorrect statements on a number of health related issues including HIV/AIDS have outraged many. Most of these statements sound more ideological and naïve than scientific and rational, his critics say. Here are a few samples

"Homosexuality is unnatural and it's a disease which is growing in our country."

Azad made the statement during a HIV/AIDS convention on July 4, in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi. This triggered a wave of protest across the globe.

"The HIV/AIDS bill should not have the provision for free treatment for all patients."

The day after after claiming homosexuality is a disease, the health minister made this remark during a meeting with HIV/AIDS awareness activists, bringing another surge of shock.

"Banning smoking on-screen is totally impractical. First the filmmakers should stop showing violence and murder. Cinema is only for enjoyment, it hardly influences people in real life."

Completely contradicting his predecessor Ambumani Ramadoss, Azad was seen almost supporting smoking on screen in 2009 immediately after become minister. Stringent graphics on cigarette packets are still to come in spite of an active campaign for it during UPA1 tenure.

"One small girl is solely responsible for spreading the swine flu virus among 30 more people on her course of seeking treatment in four different hospitals."

Azad said this in August 2009 at the peak of swine flu epidemic in Pune. Without confessing the lack of facilities in government hospitals, he went on to blame the affected girl of spreading the virus.

"33 percent of Indians will contract swine flu by the year 2011."

In August 2009, the health minister made this irresponsible comment immediately after the swine flu broke out. This triggered a panic in the country.

"If there is electricity in all the villages across the country, people will only watch television till late night. Hence they will have no time for reproducing children."

On July 6, 2009, Azad gave a prescription to control birth control - watch more television. While the television viewers themselves had a good laugh during that evening's prime time news, Azad's image as a health minister took a serious hit.