Union minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday said that it was wrong to play politics over the death of Indian Union Muslim League MP and former Union minister E. Ahamed. His reaction came after allegations were raised from various quarters that the authorities at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi were deliberately secretive about Ahamed’s health condition.
Ahamed, 78, died after he collapsed in Parliament while listening to the president's joint address on January 31.
Said Naidu to THE WEEK, “We, in the Union government, have utmost respect for E. Ahamed ji. It hurts us to see the leaders of the Congress and the CPI(M) blaming us for not treating Ahamed ji well. He was rushed to hospital at the right time. The prime minister was himself monitoring Ahamed ji’s health condition. The day he passed away, on the budget day, in spite of a busy schedule, I, along with other union ministers, was at his home consoling his family.”
Naidu said that the government of India would not hide his health details for the sake of the budget presentation. “It is wrong to accuse us of doing that. If there is any fault on the part of the hospital authorities, as alleged by Ahamed ji’s family, it will be certainly investigated. I believe doctors at the hospital have taken good care of him. The prime minister was himself enquiring to me and others about his health and treatment. Later, he also visited his home to meet his family members.”
Earlier, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had criticised the Union government for presenting the budget hours after the death of Ahamed. “The act amounted to disrespect to the memories of the deceased and an insult to the democratic consciousness of the nation,” said Vijayan, who even wrote a letter to PM Narendra Modi seeking a probe into Ahamed’s death.
