- Wednesday, February 26, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
DR BHAGWAT Karad, a junior minister in India’s ministry of finance, on Tuesday (16) earned applause from prime minister Narendra Modi, not for anything related to finance but for medicine.
The 65-year-old Karad, who is a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper chamber of the Indian parliament, and became a minister after Modi’s major cabinet reshuffle in July, helped a co-passenger on a flight from New Delhi to Mumbai after the latter felt uneasy.
Karad, a paediatrician, reached out to the passenger and provided first-aid after he complained giddiness mid-air due to a blood-pressure issue, a release from the office of the minister said. He helped stabilise the passenger after he fell down, it added.
Asian News International published photographs showing the man stretching out across a row of seats while the minister helped him.
“The patient was sweating profusely and had low BP. I removed his clothes, raised his legs, rubbed his chest and gave him glucose. He felt better after 30 minutes,” Karad told ANI.
Modi praised Karad later on Twitter saying he came up with a “great gesture”.
“A doctor at heart, always! Great gesture by my colleague,” the prime minister said tweeting a post from the airline which appreciated the minister’s efforts mid-air.
A doctor at heart, always!
Great gesture by my colleague @DrBhagwatKarad. https://t.co/VJIr5WajMH
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 16, 2021
It said, “Our heartfelt gratitude and sincere appreciation towards MoS for ministering to his duties non-stop! @DrBhagwatKarad your voluntary support for helping out a fellow passenger is ever so inspiring.”
Our heartfelt gratitude and sincere appreciation towards MoS for ministering to his duties non-stop! @DrBhagwatKarad your voluntary support for helping out a fellow passenger is ever so inspiring. https://t.co/I0tWjNqJXi
— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) November 16, 2021
Karad also tweeted thanking Modi. He said, “Thank you, Hon. Prime Minister @narendramodi ji. I am truly humbled and hope to translate your outstanding commitment and dedication to our country and citizens in my own duties. Following your guidance to serve people through “Seva aur Samarpan”. Jai Hind.”
Thank you, Hon. Prime Minister @narendramodi ji. I am truly humbled and hope to translate your outstanding commitment and dedication to our country and citizens in my own duties. Following your guidance to serve people through "Seva aur Samarpan".
Jai Hind https://t.co/FHqNqHaQzc— Dr Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad (@DrBhagwatKarad) November 16, 2021
Politicians and media personalities also praised Karad on the social media platform and he thanked them all.
A number of current and past ministers in the Modi government have set up examples of reaching out to common people in distress. Late minister of external affairs Sushma Swaraj often came to the rescue of people who appealed for help. Former railways minister Suresh Prabhu and current civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia have also helped people when they needed it the most.
