Kejriwal resorting to 'willful low calorie intake' in jail: LG
What's the story
Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has accused Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of intentionally avoiding his prescribed medical diet and medication in Tihar jail.
In a letter to Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar, Saxena referenced a report from the prison superintendent about Kejriwal's health, noting several instances of "willful low calorie intake."
Saxena suggested to the prison authorities that they may advise Kejriwal to adhere to the prescribed dosage of medicine and insulin, apart from the diet specified.
Medical report
Kejriwal's weight loss and insulin administration issues
The letter indicated that between June 6 and July 13, Kejriwal did not fully consume his prescribed meals.
It alleged that Kejriwal's weight dropped from 63.5kg on June 2 to 61.5kg by July 13, likely due to his reduced calorie intake.
"Prima facie, it appears to be due to less calorie intake," the letter stated.
It also highlighted an issue on June 18 when insulin was either not administered to Kejriwal or not recorded by prison authorities.
Twitter Post
Read the letter here
Delhi Raj Niwas writes to Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar regarding Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's health status.
— ANI (@ANI) July 20, 2024
Citing the prison Superintendent report, the letter reads, "LG has expressed concern on the non-consumption of prescribed medical diet and medications by Chief… pic.twitter.com/oVYrc326Ze
Health monitoring
Discrepancies in glucose monitoring and diet refusal
The Lieutenant Governor's office further pointed out discrepancies between glucometer test readings and continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) readings on most days.
For instance, on June 19, Kejriwal's glucometer reading before lunch was 104 mg/dL, while the CGMS reading taken at 12:30pm that day was 82 mg/dL.
"Glaring discrepancies between glucometer test readings and CGMS readings need to be verified by appropriate medical authorities," the LG office stated.
Political tensions
AAP accuses central government of health conspiracy
Reacting to the letter, AAP's Saurabh Bhardwaj said Saxena is not a doctor and that he used to work in a cement factory.
For a long time, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the government of conspiring to cause lasting damage to Kejriwal's health while in jail.
The party claimed that Kejriwal has lost weight and experienced significant drops in blood sugar levels, potentially putting him at risk of slipping into a coma.