AAP raises concerns over Tihar's medical assistance request amid controversy surrounding Arvind Kejriwal
PTC News Desk: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has brought to light a letter penned by the Director General of Prisons, which requested the presence of a senior AIIMS doctor for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. This revelation serves as a rebuttal to the assertions made by the prison authorities regarding the sufficiency of medical care provided within Tihar jail.
Saurabh Bharadwaj, a Minister from the AAP, strongly criticised the administration of the jail, accusing them of inconsistency and reiterating the party's claim of a sinister plot aimed at orchestrating Arvind Kejriwal's 'slow death' while incarcerated.
In the missive addressed to AIIMS, Sanjay Baniwal, the Director General of Prisons, sought the arrangement of a senior diabetologist for Mr. Kejriwal. This request comes amidst a backdrop of allegations by AAP officials that Mr. Kejriwal was being denied essential medical care, including insulin and consultations with his physicians.
Following Bharadwaj's accusations, the jail administration swiftly responded, stating that a senior AIIMS doctor had indeed been consulted via video conferencing at the request of the Chief Minister's wife, Sunita Kejriwal. The administration assured that after a thorough consultation, Arvind Kejriwal was deemed to have no serious medical concerns and was advised to continue his prescribed medication regimen, which would be regularly monitored and reviewed.
Contrary to the administration's claims, both Saurabh Bharadwaj and Delhi Minister Atishi asserted that Mr. Kejriwal was being deliberately deprived of insulin and proper medical attention, insinuating a concerted effort to endanger his life while in custody.
Atishi emphasised Mr. Kejriwal's longstanding reliance on insulin, stating that he had been administered 50 units daily prior to his incarceration. She further alleged that a conspiracy orchestrated by the BJP aimed to eliminate Mr. Kejriwal while in jail, questioning the justification for denying him access to insulin.
However, the Tihar administration maintained that there was an ample supply of insulin available in the jail dispensary and reiterated its commitment to administer it to Mr. Kejriwal as needed. Arvind Kejriwal's arrest on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate, in connection with a money-laundering case linked to the Delhi government's erstwhile excise policy, has heightened tensions surrounding his treatment while in custody.
Medical records from RML Hospital indicated no prescription for insulin for Mr. Kejriwal, according to the Tihar report. The report also stated that his health had been assessed by a medical specialist on April 10 and April 15, who recommended oral anti-diabetic drugs, refuting claims of insulin deprivation.
The ED had alleged that Mr. Kejriwal was consuming high-sugar foods daily, such as mangoes and sweets, despite his type 2 diabetes, in an attempt to warrant medical bail. The prison administration corroborated these claims, citing a diet high in sugar and cholesterol.
Arvind Kejriwal countered these allegations, asserting that his dietary habits adhered to a prescribed plan by his doctor, refuting any notion of deliberate consumption of unhealthy foods.
- With inputs from agencies
