Row Over Kejriwal's Health Intensifies, AAP Fears He May 'Slip Into Coma, Or Even Die'

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, on Monday, claimed that their party leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal could slip into a coma due to low sugar.

Tihar Refutes AAP's Claims

Refuting 'false' and 'misleading' claims by AAP that his health was deteriorating, Tihar jail authorities said Kejriwal had lost only two kilos in prison and his health was being regularly monitored by a medical board of AIIMS.

BJP Claims AAP Resorts To Such 'Rhetoric' Ahead of Hearing

The BJP claimed that AAP leaders resort to such 'rhetoric' about medical issues whenever a court hearing in Kejriwal's case is approaching so that he can get bail but the Tihar administration's report has now revealed the 'truth.'

'AAP Confuses, Misleads Public'

In the report sent to the Delhi government's Home Department, the Tihar administration shared Kejriwal's vitals and said that the narrative created by AAP ministers and leaders "confuses and misleads the public."

Kejriwal Lost Only 2 Kilos, Claims Tihar

It stated that Kejriwal weighed 65 kg when he first came to prison on April 1 and 66 kg between April 8 and 29. When he returned to prison on June 2 after a 21-day bail, his weight was 63.5 kg.

"On July 14, his weight was 61.5 kg. So, effectively, he lost 2 kg," the report stated.

'Delhi CM Has Home-Cooked Meals But Sends Portions Back Home...'

According to the report, Kejriwal has been eating home-cooked food in jail but regularly sends back portions of his meals.

The prison administration said in its report that the AAP's narrative with "false information and ulterior motive" was intended to "browbeat" it.

'Home-Cooked Meals Thrice A Day'

"The blood pressure and sugar levels and weight of the accused are regularly being monitored and he is provided adequate treatment for all his ailments and is regularly having home-cooked food thrice a day," it said.

Wife Sunita Constantly In Touch With AIIMS

A medical board of AIIMS has been constantly monitoring the chief minister and his wife Sunita Kejriwal remains in regular touch with the board, the Tihar report stated.

"These facts are brought on record in the light of the media vilification being carried out by vested interest groups," it said.

AAP Claims Kejriwal Lost 8.5 Kgs

Atishi had on Sunday claimed that Kejriwal, who was a diabetic, faced an acute health risk due to "unexplained weight loss of 8.5 kg" and dangerously low sugar levels. She again claimed that his blood sugar dropped to 50 mg/dL five times.

Since Kejriwal's arrest in the excise policy-linked money laundering case on March 21, AAP and the Tihar jail administration have been at loggerheads over Kejriwal's health condition, with AAP alleging that he was not being given the required medical attention.

Can Face Brain Stroke, Haemorrhage And Can Even Die: Atishi

"Doctors would tell you when the sugar level of a diabetes patient drops suddenly it is fatal and within 20-30 minutes he can slip into a coma, face brain stroke and haemorrhage and can even die," Atishi said on Monday.

Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh said the report "leaked" by the prison authorities showed that Kejriwal has lost weight and suffered multiple hypoglycemia episodes in jail due to which "something untoward" could happen.

"Report of government doctor of Tihar Jail exposes BJP’s conspiracy. The report makes it clear that Kejriwal's sugar level is continuously dropping in jail," Atishi said.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said that whenever a court hearing in Kejriwal's case is close, the AAP leaders resort to rhetoric that he is facing medical issues like weight loss and a decline in blood sugar level.

Home-Cooked Meal Lacks Nutrients, Says Delhi BJP Chief

"Kejriwal eats home-cooked food in jail every day. If he is losing weight it means his food lacks nutrients which is being intentionally done to facilitate his bail," he alleged.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla lashed out at Kejriwal's party, saying “AAP doesn’t stand for Aam Aadmi Party but for ‘Aur Adhik Propaganda’ and ‘Aur Adhik Prapanch’".

"They are alleging that Arvind Kejriwal has lost 8 kg of weight and there is a conspiracy to kill him inside the jail. However, the truth has come out now," he said while referring to the report during a press conference.

BJP Playing With Kejriwal's Life: Sanjay Singh

AAP's Sanjay Singh alleged the BJP was playing with Kejriwal's life. It is a crime to "leak" someone's medical report and there should be a probe into this, he said.

Even the medical report "leaked" by the Tihar jail authorities to the media states that he lost weight and suffered multiple hypoglycemia episodes in prison, he said.

"Something untoward might happen someday and he (Kejriwal) could slip into a coma," the AAP MP claimed.

Atishi alleged that the BJP has put Kejriwal's life in danger. She asked the BJP to stop doing politics over it.

"It stooped so low that it got leaked documents of Tihar administration to say that there was no problem with Kejriwal's health," she charged.

Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi government's now-scrapped excise policy 2021-22.

He was granted bail by the Supreme Court recently but could not be released as he is in judicial custody in a related case following his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 26. 

(with PTI inputs)