Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s health has become an issue between the Tihar Jail authorities and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, who claim that the senior politician has lost nearly 9 kg while in a grip of a “serious disease”. Tihar officials insist that Kejriwal was being monitored by an AIIMS medical team.
The AAP alleged an “acute” health risk to the Delhi Chief Minister while in judicial custody.
Who is AAP Saying?
AAP leaders have repeatedly voiced concerns about Kejriwal’s health since he was arrested earlier this year. Senior party leader Sanjay Singh claimed on Saturday that the CM had lost 8.5 kg in jail and that it was indicative of a serious disease. His blood sugar level had also allegedly plunged five times, dropping as low as 50 mg/dL.
On Monday, Singh said the report provided by jail authorities confirms Kejriwal’s blood sugar levels had dropped several times. “If sugar levels are low, one may slip into coma in sleep. There is also the risk of a brain stroke,” Singh warned.
Kejriwal is reportedly suffering from Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Delhi minister Atishi during a press conference on Sunday alleged conspiracy to cause “permanent damage” to Kejriwal’s health. She also flagged an “unexplained” drop in Kejriwal’s weight.
Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit, however, has slammed the AAP for raking up Kejriwal’s health as an issue. Dikshit said lying is AAP’s habit and leaders like Atishi need to increase their credibility.
“I would expect at this time that these people will not do politics on the health of a big leader. If you also look at AAP, they bring up anything and say anything anywhere and I am sorry if anyone feels bad but lying is AAP’s habit. Since 2012-13, they have been lying, whether it is corruption charges or how they will administer Delhi or pointing fingers at everyone,” said Sandeep Dikshit as quoted by ANI.
What Are Tihar Jail Officials Saying?
Tihar jail sources also told PTI that the AAP supremo had lost only 2 kg and was being monitored regularly. A letter indicated that the jail administration has written to the state Home Department rejecting the AAP allegations.
A health reported shared by the prison authorities indicates that Kejriwal weighed 65 kg when he was jailed on April 1. This rose to 66 kg between April 8 and April 29. Officials said that his weight stood at 63.5 kg when he returned to jail on June 2 after 21 days of bail.
“As per the report of the Senior Medical Officer, the loss of weight may be due to consumption of less quantity of food or low calories intake,” according to a letter to the Delhi government’s Home Department by the Tihar Jail superintendent.
The jail superintendent also insisted that Kejriwal has been given home-cooked food thrice a day.
The letter also said that at present, Kejriwal’s “blood sugar is being monitored as advised from the medical board and he is being provided treatment and diet as advised from the medical board, his vitals are within normal limits at present.”
Kejriwal’s Arrest
The Delhi CM was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 in connection with a corruption case related to Delhi’s liquor policy.
He was granted temporary bail by the Supreme Court to participate in the Lok Sabha election campaign, and asked to return to the Tihar Jail on June 2.
While the Supreme Court has granted him interim bail in the ED case on Friday, the Delhi CM remains behind bars in a corruption case related to the alleged liquor policy scam investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation.