Harsh Vardhan (Delhi politician)

Last updated

Harsh Vardhan
Harsh Vardhan in 2017.jpg
Vardhan at the inauguration of India-Canada Technology Summit, in New Delhi, 2017
Chairman of the WHO Executive Board
In office
22 May 2020 (2020-05-22) 2 June 2021 (2021-06-02)

Harsh Vardhan (born Harshvardhan Goel, [1] 13 December 1954) is an Indian otorhinolaryngologist. He had served as the Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Minister of Science and Technology and Minister of Earth Sciences in the BJP-led NDA government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from 30 May 2019 to 7 July 2021.[ citation needed ] He represents Chandni Chowk in Delhi as a Member of Parliament in the 17th Lok Sabha. He was elected to the office of chairperson of executive board of the World Health Organization from May 22, 2020. [2] Vardhan has been prominent in the Indian government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. [3] He later resigned from his cabinet post ahead of the cabinet reshuffle in July 2021.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Dr Harsh Vardhan has quit active politics on 4 March 2024 after allegedly being denied a ticket for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. [4]

As MP Chandni Chowk

He was elected as MP of Chandni Chowk in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. [5] He was again elected as MP in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. .

Early life

Harsh Vardhan was born in Delhi to Om Prakash Goel and Sneh Lata Goel. [6] Vardhan finished his schooling from Happy School, Daryaganj, in 1971. He attended Zakir Husain Delhi College of the University of Delhi and Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial Medical College of the Kanpur University, where he graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery. He earned his Master of Surgery in Otorhinolaryngology from the same college in 1983.[ citation needed ] He has been a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh since childhood. [7]

Political career

In 1993, Vardhan was elected as a member of the Delhi Assembly representing Krishna Nagar. [8] He was appointed as the State Minister of Health and Minister of Law for Delhi. [9] He later became the state Minister of Education in 1996. [10] He has been re-elected from the same constituency in the 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2013 elections. [11] [12] [13] [14]

Minister of Health and Family Affairs of Delhi

Vardhan as the State Minister of Health in 1994 oversaw the implementation of the pilot project of the Pulse Polio Programme which involved the mass immunisation of 1 million children up to the age of 3 in Delhi. [15] In 1995, this programme was launched nationwide leading to 88 million children being immunised. [16] On 28 March 2014, India was declared polio-free by the WHO, as there had been no reported cases for three years. [17]

In 1997, the Delhi Prohibition of Smoking and Non-Smokers Health Protection Act was passed in the Delhi assembly which was one of the first anti-tobacco laws implemented by any state government. [18] The act applied across the NCT of Delhi. It prohibited smoking in places of public work or use for example hospitals, restaurants, and educational institutions and in public service vehicles. It also prohibited the sale of smoking substances such as tobacco and beedis to anyone below the age of eighteen. Smoking products could not also be sold or stored within 100 metres of any educational institution. Under the provisions of the act, fines would be applied to anyone who contravened the law and they could potentially be ejected from places of public use by the police. [19]

2013 Delhi Assembly elections

On 23 October 2013, Vardhan was named the Chief Minister candidate for Delhi Assembly elections by the BJP. [20] After the 2013 elections, BJP emerged as the single largest party winning 31 out of the 70 seats in the Fifth Legislative Assembly of Delhi. However, they fell short of an absolute majority so were unable to form the government. [21]

2014 Lok Sabha election

Vardhan contested the Chandni Chowk seat in Delhi where he defeated the incumbent Union Minister of Law and Justice, Kapil Sibal of the Indian National Congress. [22] He was also appointed in the first Narendra Modi government as Minister of Health and Family Welfare on 26 May 2014. [23] [24] In May 2017, he was given the additional charge of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change following the death of Minister Anil Madhav Dave. [25]

2019 Lok Sabha election

Vardhan again contested the Chandni Chowk seat in Delhi where he defeated Congress candidate Jai Parkash Aggarwal by a margin of 2,28,145 votes. While he received 52.94% votes, runner-up Aggarwal polled 29.67% votes. [26]

As Union Minister

Vardhan taking charge as the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare on June 3, 2019. Dr. Harsh Vardhan taking charge as the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, in New Delhi on June 03, 2019.jpg
Vardhan taking charge as the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare on June 3, 2019.
Dr. Vardhan visiting the Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Narayan Hospital to take stock of preparedness to overcome COVID-19, in New Delhi on April 04, 2020. The Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan visiting the Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Narayan Hospital to take stock of preparedness to overcome COVID-19, in Delhi on April 04, 2020 (1).jpg
Dr. Vardhan visiting the Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Narayan Hospital to take stock of preparedness to overcome COVID-19, in New Delhi on April 04, 2020.
Dr. Vardhan visiting the GTB Hospital, Shahdara, Delhi, to review the preparedness to overcome COVID-19, in New Delhi on January 02, 2021. The Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan visiting the GTB Hospital, Shahdara to review the preparedness of Dry Run of COVID-19 vaccine, in Delhi on January 02, 2021 (2).jpg
Dr. Vardhan visiting the GTB Hospital, Shahdara, Delhi, to review the preparedness to overcome COVID-19, in New Delhi on January 02, 2021.

On 30 May 2019, Vardhan was sworn in as a cabinet minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's second term government. He is put in charge of the Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Minister of Science and Technology and Minister of Earth Sciences. [27] [28]

Vardhan has been prominent in this role during the COVID-19 pandemic in India. In February 2021, he endorsed an unproven "herbal cure" for COVID-19 devised by a company run by yoga guru Ramdev, prompting criticism from health experts. [29] In early March 2021, he declared the country was in the "endgame" of the pandemic, shortly before infections across the country rose dramatically in its second wave in April. [3]

Vardhan as a cabinet minister in Narendra Modi government, declared reservation for academic calendar 2020–2021 in MBBS and BDS colleges for the children of COVID-19 workers who died during COVID-19 pandemic in India. [30] [ clarification needed ]

As a part of Cabinet Reshuffle on 7 July 2021, Harshvardhan resigned from his post of Union Health Minister after holding its two years of office. [31]

Controversies

At the 105th Indian Science Congress in March 2018, after the death of legendary British scientist Stephen Hawking, Vardhan claimed that Hawking had said that the Vedas postulated a theory superior to Albert Einstein's theory of relativity, despite the fact that there is no record of Hawking having made the statement. [32] [33] [34]

In 2019, after the Health Effects Institute released a scientific report estimating 1.2 million annual deaths in India due to air pollution, Vardhan denied the results, arguing that this report was intended to create panic [35] In 2021, Indian Medical Association (IMA), the largest association of doctors in India, issued a statement which it objected to Vardhan who was endorsing Coronil, a product of Patanjali Ayurved. [36] IMA questioned the ethics of a health minister of the country to release a fabricated and unscientific product to the people of the country. [37]

In 2023, a legislator from ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made Islamophobic remarks and used communal slurs against a Muslim MP inside the parliament. During a Thursday night debate on 22 September 2023 on the success of India’s historic moon mission, BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri called Kunwar Danish Ali of the opposition Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) a “terrorist” and a “pimp” among other anti-Islamic slurs. [38] Dr Harsh Vardhan came under attack after a video footage of the incident went viral on social media. In the video clip, he was seen sitting behind Ramesh Bidhuri and appeared to be laughing. [39] [40]

Awards and honours

Vardhan has received the following awards and recognitions: [41]

Personal life

Vardhan is married to Nutan, and they have two sons and one daughter. [7]

Bibliography

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajiv Pratap Rudy</span> Indian politician and commercial pilot

Rajiv Pratap Rudy is an Indian politician from the Bharatiya Janata Party, and a Member of Parliament representing Saran in Bihar, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sadar Bazaar, Delhi</span> Place in Delhi, India

Sadar Bazaar is the largest wholesale cosmetics jewellery market of household items in Old Delhi, Delhi, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramdev</span> Indian yoga teacher and businessman

Ramdev is an Indian yoga guru, businessman and brand ambassador for Patanjali Ayurved. He is primarily known for being a proponent of yoga and ayurveda in India. Ramdev has been organizing and conducting large yoga camps since 2002 and broadcasting his yoga classes on various TV channels. He co-founded Patanjali Ayurved and Patanjali Yogpeeth with his colleague Balkrishna in 2006. Ramdev has received criticism over his comments related to modern medicine, yoga, and ayurveda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vijay Goel (politician)</span> Indian politician

Vijay Goel is an Indian politician and a former Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Statistic and Implementation in the NDA government. A former Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Goel is affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He became president of the Delhi unit of the BJP in February 2013. He was elected to Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pankaj Chaudhary</span> Indian politician

Pankaj Chaudhary is an Indian politician and a Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha from Maharajganj in Uttar Pradesh.

Harsharan Singh Balli is an Indian politician belonging to Aam Aadmi Party, ex-BJP leader, who was Industry Minister in the Delhi state government of Madan Lal Khurana. He is the most powerful politician based in west Delhi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jai Ram Thakur</span> Indian politician (born 1965)

Jai Ram Thakur is an Indian politician, and was the Chief Minister of the state of Himachal Pradesh from 2017 to 2022. He is serving his sixth term as MLA in the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, winning continuously since 1998 and has previously served as a Cabinet Minister in the Bharatiya Janata Party Government of Himachal Pradesh. Thakur was the Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj from 2009 to 2012. He is serving as Leader of opposition in current legislative assembly of the state.He is elected to Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly from Seraj Assembly constituency of Mandi district. He won his first election in the year 1998 from now delimited constituency of Chachiot (Seraj).

Aamir Raza Husain was an Indian theatre actor and director, noted for his large outdoor stage productions like The Fifty Day War (2000), based on the Kargil War and The Legend of Ram (2004), based on the epic Ramayana. He was also the creative director of Stagedoor, a theatre company established in 1974, which has staged over 91 productions and more than 1,100 performances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jitendra Singh (politician, born 1956)</span> Indian politician

Jitendra Singh is an Indian physician and politician. He is the Minister of State for the Ministry of Science and Technology and Minister of State for Prime Minister's Office; Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Delhi Legislative Assembly election</span> 2013 legislative assembly elections in Delhi

The Delhi Legislative Assembly election was held on 4 December 2013, with the result announced on 8 December resulting in formation of the Fifth Legislative Assembly of Delhi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashutosh (politician)</span> Indian journalist and former politician

Ashutosh is an Indian journalist and former politician of AAP. He was the spokesperson of the Aam Aadmi Party. He is the Co-founder and Editorial Director of SatyaHindi, He was previously associated with IBN 7, an Indian news television channel, as a News anchor and managing editor. On 15 August 2018 Ashutosh resigned from Aam Aadmi Party citing his personal reasons.

Yudhvir Singh was an Indian freedom fighter, politician and homeopathic doctor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. P. Nadda</span> 11th and incumbent president of the Bharatiya Janata Party

Jagat Prakash "J.P." Nadda is an Indian lawyer and politician serving as the 11th national president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since 2020 and the member of the Rajya Sabha representing Gujarat since 2024. A key decision maker of the BJP, he is a close aide to Narendra Modi. He was the BJP's working president from 2019 to 2020. Nadda also served as the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India in the 1st Modi ministry from 2014 to 2019 and Parliamentary Board Secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">K. K. Aggarwal (cardiologist)</span> Indian physician (1958–2021)

Krishan Kumar Aggarwal was an Indian physician and senior cardiologist who was President of the Confederation of Medical Association of Asia and Oceania (CMAAO), President of the Heart Care Foundation of India and the Past National President of Indian Medical Association. In 2010, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, for his contributions to the field of medicine.

Patanjali Ayurved is an Indian multinational conglomerate holding company, based in Haridwar. It was founded by Ramdev and Balkrishna in 2006. Its office is in Delhi, with manufacturing units and headquarters in the industrial area of Haridwar. The company manufactures cosmetics, ayurvedic medicine, personal care and food products. The CEO of the company, with a 94-percent share hold, is Balkrishna. Ramdev represents the company and makes strategic decisions.

Ramvir Singh Bidhuri is an Indian politician and he was member of the 1st, 3rd and the Fifth Legislative Assemblies of Delhi. Currently, he is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party and MLA From Badarpur and Leader of Opposition in Delhi Legislative Assembly.

Rajendra Pal Gautam is an Indian politician, Dalit activist,Social worker and the former Minister for Water, Tourist, Culture, Arts & Languages and Gurudwara Elections in the Government of Delhi. He is a member of the Aam Aadmi Party and represents Seemapuri Assembly constituency in the Delhi Legislative Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raghav Chadha</span> Indian politician (born 1988)

Raghav Chadha is an Indian politician and a member of the Aam Aadmi Party. He is the youngest Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha from Punjab constituency. He was the former Vice Chairman of the Delhi Jal Board and MLA from the Rajendra Nagar assembly constituency in Delhi till 2022. Chadha has been elected as Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha. He is also a practising chartered accountant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mansukh Mandaviya</span> Indian politician (born 1972)

Mansukh Laxmanbhai Mandaviya is an Indian politician currently serving as the Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilizers of India. He is also a Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harsh Vardhan Shringla</span> Indian diplomat (born 1962)

Harsh Vardhan Shringla is Chief Coordinator for India’s G20 Presidency in 2023. He has previously served as Foreign Secretary of India and India's Ambassador to the United States, High Commissioner to Bangladesh, and Ambassador to Thailand.

References

  1. 1 2 "What's in a surname?".
  2. Shishir Gupta (19 May 2020). "Harsh Vardhan is India's nominee for lead role in WHO, takes over on Friday". hindustantimes.com. Hindustan Times . Retrieved 20 May 2020. The WHO, a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health, is currently at the forefront of global efforts towards containing the novel coronavirus pandemic. Health minister Harsh Vardhan will have to work closely with Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
    "Dr Harsh Vardhan set to become chairman of WHO Executive Board on May 22". It may be noted that Dr. Harsh Vardhan's taking over of the post in just a formality as it was decided last year that India's nominee would be elected to the executive board for a three-year term in May 2020. The post is held by rotation for one year among regional groups. Further, the post is not a full-time assignment and Dr. Harsh Vardhan will only chair the board's meetings.
  3. 1 2 "Covid-19: How India failed to prevent a deadly second wave". BBC News. 18 April 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  4. The Hindu (3 March 2024). "Denied ticket from Chandni Chowk, BJP MP Harsh Vardhan bows out of active politics". Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  5. "Harsh Vardhan confident about Chandni Chowk: I grew up in the lap of Muslims". The Indian Express. 17 March 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  6. "List of Members – Dr. Harsh Vardhan". Delhiassembly.nic.in. Legislative Assembly of Delhi . Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  7. 1 2 "About me – Profile". Drharshvardhan.com. Archived from the original on 4 September 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  8. 1993 Election Commission of India
  9. "Dr. Harsh Vardhan Biography". elections.in. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  10. "Harshvardhan is new Delhi BJP president". The Times of India . 19 February 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  11. 1998 Election Commission of India
  12. 2003 Election Commission of India
  13. 2008 Election Commission of India
  14. "Assembly Elections December 2013 Results - NCT OF Delhi - KRISHNA NAGAR". Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
  15. T Jacob-John; VM Vashishta (May 2013). "Eradicating poliomyelitis: India's journey from hyperendemic to polio-free status". Indian Journal of Medical Research. 137 (5): 881–94. PMC   3734678 . PMID   23760372.
  16. "From 200,000 to zero: the journey to a polio free India" (PDF). UNICEF. 22 February 2012. p. 8. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  17. "India and 10 other Asian countries declared polio free". The Guardian. 28 March 2014.
  18. "Smoking fine may go up in Delhi". The Times of India. 11 January 2008.
  19. "The Delhi Prohibition of Smoking and Non-Smokers Health Protection Act, 1996" (.doc). Indian Railways. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  20. "BJP trusts Dr Harsh Vardhan as its chief ministerial candidate for Delhi". The Economic Times. 23 October 2013.
  21. "BJP rejects offer to form govt". The Tribune . Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  22. "Constituencywise-All Candidates". Election Commission of India.
  23. "Modi's complete cabinet: Jaitley gets Finance, Smriti Human Resources". Firstpost. 27 May 2014.
  24. Live, India (26 May 2014). "PM Modi announces list of cabinet ministers with portfolios". IndiaLive.today.
  25. "Harsh Vardhan gets additional charge of Environment Ministry". The Hindu Business Line . 18 May 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  26. "Dr Harsh Vardhan: Two-time MP from crucial Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha seat". 30 May 2019.
  27. "ENT Surgeon, Dr. Harsh Vardhan Appointed Union Health Minister in Modi Government 2.0". Medical Dialogues. 31 May 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  28. "PM Modi allocates portfolios. Full list of new ministers", Live Mint , 31 May 2019
  29. Lateef, Samaan (22 February 2021). "Mumbai state fears Covid-19 third wave as health minister criticised for approving herbal 'cure'" . The Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  30. "Children of COVID Warriors Who Died to Get MBBS & BDS Reservation". The Quint. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  31. "Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan resigns, new minister to take over". Medical Dialogues. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  32. Vardhan, Dr Harsh (16 March 2018). "#ISC2018 –Each and every custom and ritual of Hinduism is steeped in science; every modern Indian achievement is a continuation of our ancient scientific achievement. Even Stephen Hawking said, our Vedas might have a theory superior to Einstein's law E=MC2. @moefcc @IndiaDSTpic.twitter.com/QP9PbLElCd". @drharshvardhan. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  33. Koshy, Jacob (16 March 2018). "Stephen Hawking said Vedas had a 'theory' superior to Einstein's thesis, says Harsh Vardan". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  34. "Vedas superior to Einstein's Theory of Relativity? Union Minister Harsh Vardhan falls for fake information on social media". India Today. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  35. "Minister Harsh Vardhan disagrees with reports on pollution deaths, claims it was released to create panic". The New Indian Express. 6 May 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  36. "IMA 'shocked' over Patanjali's claim on Coronil; demands explanation from Harsh Vardhan". The Hindu. 22 February 2021.
  37. "IMA slams Harsh Vardhan for Coronil 'backing'". The Times of India . 23 February 2021.
  38. Faisal, Meer. "Muslim MP called 'terrorist, pimp' by BJP member inside India's parliament". www.aljazeera.com.
  39. "Harsh Vardhan, Seen Grinning When BJP MP Was Abusing In Parliament, Clarifies". NDTV.com.
  40. India, Press Trust of (22 September 2023). "My name dragged to tarnish my image: Harsh Vardhan on Bidhuri remarks row". The Siasat Daily.
  41. "Biography of Dr Harsh Vardhan, BJP's CM Candidate for Delhi". Bihar Prabha. 21 October 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  42. "WHO honours Harsh Vardhan on World No Tobacco Day for banning e-cigarettes".
Lok Sabha
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Chandni Chowk

2014 – present
Succeeded by
Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Health and Family Welfare
26 May 2014 – 9 November 2014
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Jitendra Singh
Minister of State
(Independent Charge)
Minister of Science and Technology
9 November 2014 - 7 July 2021
Succeeded by
Jitendra Singh
Minister of State
(Independent Charge)
Preceded by
Jitendra Singh
Minister of State
(Independent Charge)
Minister of Earth Sciences
9 November 2014 - 7 July 2021
Succeeded by
Jitendra Singh
Minister of State
(Independent Charge)
Preceded by Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
18 May 2017 – 29 May 2019
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Health and Family Welfare
30 May 2019 – 7 July 2021
Succeeded by