Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike since Tuesday, was shifted to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital in New Delhi late on Sunday night.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal confirmed the development on Twitter saying the Delhi minister was shifted to hospital due to “deteriorating health”.
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Jain was camping at the Raj Niwas along with Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Cabinet colleague Gopal Rai since Monday evening and had begun his fast on Tuesday. Sisodia has also been on an indefinite hunger strike since Wednesday.
Jain’s health summary on Sunday morning showed that his sugar level was 64 units (mg/dL) and ketone level in urine was “large”. The blood pressure level was 96/68 and he weighed 78.5 kg, sources said.
Kejriwal, Sisodia, Jain and Rai have been staying put at Lieutenant General Anil Baijal’s office demanding that the latter direct IAS officers to end what the AAP described their “strike” and approve doorstep ration delivery scheme.
On Sunday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had called off the protest march they launched in the afternoon in the heart of the national capital against L-G and the alleged strike by IAS officers.
Also Read | Police thwart AAP workers from reaching PMO, protest march called off; sit-in to continue
According to reports, the AAP, whose supporters were trying to march towards the Prime Ministers’ residence, decided to end their protest for now after police said they had not obtained permission.
“The call given by the AAP to march towards PM office or residence is without permission. No permission has been applied for. As such the areas under New Delhi district are under prohibitory orders,” said an official of the Delhi Police.
Police deployed force and barricaded areas around the Mandi House metro station preventing the supporters from marching towards Lok Kalyan Marg.
AAP leader Atishi Marlena had alleged the Delhi Police was working on the instruction of the PMO.
Read More | AAP protest: Delhi Metro shuts five stations; police say no permission for rally
As protestors attempted to make their way to the PM’s residence, the IAS Association held a press conference countering the accusations levelled at them by the Delhi government led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
“The information that IAS officers in Delhi are on strike is completely false and baseless. We are attending meetings and all departments are doing their works. We are sometimes also working on holidays,” said Manisha Saxena of the Association.
“Let us do our work. We are feeling frightened and victimised. We are being used for completely political reasons,” said Varsha Joshi, another member of the IAS Association.