Sheikh Hasina ‘torchlight of democracy’: Vardhan tweets

India’s health minister Harsh Vardhan has called Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina “torchlight of democracy” as he admired her personality.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 11 Sept 2014, 05:39 AM
Updated : 11 Sept 2014, 01:12 PM

Vardhan also called Hasina a “bold social reformer”, but “very modest and gentle”.

He met the PM on Wednesday evening and then he tweeted in his personal twitter.

“Felt honoured to meet Smt. Sheikh Hasina, PM of Bangladesh today. Torchlight of democracy, bold social reformer, yet very modest and gentle”.

They discussed bilateral co-operation in the health sector during the meeting.

Vardhan is a doctor by training and his role particularly in polio-eradication has been much lauded.

He was the health minister of Delhi state earlier and his policy on polio-campaign had a rippling effect in India.

Harsha Vardhan (File Photo)

He wrote a book titled “A Tale of Two Drops” with inspiring stories of the trendsetting polio-eradication campaign.
Vardhan is attending WHO regional meetings in Dhaka.
In his first speech at the inauguration of the meeting on Sep 9 he extolled PM Hasina and sought her support for his new role.
Hasina inaugurated the meetings.
Vardhan assumed the office of India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in May when the BJP came to power.
“In this new role, I seek your (Sheikh Hasina) valuable support in traversing a path where we can attain the highest standards of health not only for our countries but for the entire region and for the entire League of Nations,” he said.
He said joining forces together “the highest standards of health” could be achieved not only for Bangladesh and India, but for the entire region.