Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain was rushed to a city hospital late on Sunday night as his health deteriorated nearly a week after he had gone on an indefinite hunger strike at the lieutenant governor's office, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said.
The development came after Delhi Police stopped a march by AAP supporters earlier on Sunday to the Prime Minister's Office. AAP had warned it would start a mass outreach campaign to reach out to 10 lakh families if Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not act by Sunday to stop the IAS officers' 'unofficial' strike.
Kejriwal confirmed that his colleague has been hospitalised even as the tug-of-war between the AAP government and the lieutenant governor on the issue of non-cooperation by IAS officers refused to die down on the seventh day.
On Monday, Kejriwal tweeted Jain was stable. He added Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who is also on hunger strike at the lieutenant governor's office, was “doing well”.
Good morning Delhi
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) June 18, 2018
Last nite, Satinder Jain’s ketone levels increased n he complained of headache, bodyache, difficulty in breathing n difficulty in passing urine. So, he had to be shifted to hospital. Now, he is doing well.
It is 6th day of Mansh’s fast. He is doing well
Jain's health summary on Sunday 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, his deputy Manish Sisodia, Jain and minister Gopal Rai, have stayed put at the lieutenant governor's office demanding that Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal direct IAS officers to end what the AAP described as their "strike" and approve the doorstep ration delivery scheme.
Jain had gone on strike on June 12, and his sugar level had further dipped, even as he asserted that the AAP government will continue to fight for people of the city.
In a tweet, the minister had shared a copy of his health summary, which said the ketone level in urine had increased to a "large amount".
Meanwhile, as the sit-in protest by Kejriwal and his ministers continue, the chief minister reportedly reached out to Uddhav Thackeray, chief of the Shiv Sena, an ally of the BJP. According to media reports Thackeray was apprised of developments in Delhi.
A number of opposition parties including the Trinamool Congress, TDP and CPI(M) have announced support for the AAP's demands; the Congress is the only notable exception as it has criticised Kejriwal's dharna.