INDIA SUMMONS IRISH ENVOY
Mounting public outrage over the death of
an Indian woman after being refused an abortion by doctors in Ireland compelled
the Foreign Office to summon the Irish envoy and put across the "concern
and angst in Indian society about the untimely and tragic death."External
Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid expressed some of the outrage felt in the
country by telling newspersons, “Saving the life of the mother is of prime
importance, if you can’t save the life of the child.’’M. Ganapathi, Secretary
(West) in the External Affairs ministry summoned Irish Ambassador Feilim
McLaughlin on Friday and hoped the inquiry into the incident would be
independent.Earlier in the day, highly placed sources had reposed faith in
India’s Dublin mission and felt it was "best we should not rush to
conclusions."
During his meeting with Mr. McLaughlin, Mr.
Ganapathy said India was unhappy that a young life had come to an untimely end
and hoped the Indian Ambassador in Dublin would be regularly updated about the
probe’s progress and outcome.The incident took place late last month but came
into limelight nearly three weeks later. Savita Halappanavar arrived with back
pain at Galway University Hospital on October 21 and died of septicaemia a week
later after doctors in the hospital declined to abort the foetus because
Ireland was a "Catholic country."
A Foreign Office release said the Irish
envoy assured full cooperation and indicated that the terms of reference for
the inquiry would be released shortly.
The highly placed sources felt that no
matter what the enquiry did, human loss cannot be compensated. Therefore, in
order to prevent such a situation from occurring again, the Irish would have to
reconsider some issues.
"There is some hope for improvement of
their internal arrangements and system," they added in reference to Irish
deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore telling his country's Parliament that he
was "deeply disturbed by what Savita's husband said. I don't think as a
country we should allow a situation where women's rights are put at risk in
this way."
Prof.John
Kurakar
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