Civic hospital doctors ask Muslims to shave beard for ops: SP

Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Rais Sheikh has claimed doctors at civic-run hospitals here ask Muslim patients to shave off beard before they perform surgery on them and sought a ban on this practice.

Sheikh, the SP's group leader in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), has written a letter to civic commissioner Ajoy Mehta, drawing his attention to the practice which he termed as unacceptable.

In the letter, he has claimed doctors at BMC-run hospitals ask Muslim patients to shave off beard before performing even minor operations.

Speaking to PTI, the SP corporator said, "Keeping a beard is long-cherished part of our faith and I have received several complaints from our Muslim brother patients who say doctors advice them to shave off beard before performing even a minor surgery."