AAP vs Lt Governor over ‘Arvind Kejriwal denied insulin’ charge

The Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday alleged that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is being pushed towards a "slow death" inside the Tihar jail and questioned why authorities were denying him insulin. The claim, however, was rejected by Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, who cited reports by jail authorities on Kejriwal's diet and insulin need.

Arvind Kejriwal, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case, has Type-2 diabetes and his blood sugar levels have allegedly been fluctuating while in judicial custody.

"I want to say with full responsibility that a conspiracy is underway for the slow death of Kejriwal," AAP leader and Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said in a press conference held earlier in the day.

Another AAP leader, Atishi, said that Arvind Kejriwal's health report by Tihar authorities exposed the conspiracy hatched by BJP, Centre and the Delhi Lieutenant Governor.

"Any doctor will tell that 300 blood sugar level is dangerous. BJP is planning to kill Arvind Kejriwal in jail. Why do the jail authorities have an objection to the Chief Minister getting insulin doses? He has been suffering from diabetes for the last 22 years and taking insulin since last 10 years," she said.

On Friday, the Chief Minister's council Abhishek Singhvi said Kejriwal has not been administered insulin to control his sugar levels since his arrest, terming it 'shocking' and 'alarming'.

Reacting to the claims made by AAP, Delhi L-G VK Saxena said that a narrative of fear-mongering is being built by the AAP leaders regarding Arvind Kejriwal's blood sugar levels.

"Kejriwal, as advised by the Telangana Doctor, was on an insulin - reversal program and the doctor had stopped insulin dosage much before the arrest of Kejriwal," Saxena said in an LG house communique.

"Kejriwal’s alleged treatment at a Private Clinic in Telangana is a curious case where Delhi’s Chief Minister, who boasts of a 'world-class health infrastructure' in Delhi is surreptitiously getting treated at a South India Clinic of which he even fails to provide medical documents," Lieutenant Governor said.

"As per the MLC report available from RML Hospital, Kejriwal was neither advised any insulin nor any requirement of any insulin was indicated. On 10.04.2024 and 15.04.2024, Kejriwal was reviewed by Medicine Specialist and advised oral anti-diabetic drugs/ medicines," he added.

The Lieutenant Governor said that the Tihar Jail Administration had written to AIIMS over Arvind Kejriwal's health concern. As per the diet plan provided by AIIMS for Arvind Kejriwal, he was prohibited from eating fried food like poori and paratha, or sweets and chocolated, or fruits like mangoes and bananas, ghee, full-cream milk etc.

VK Saxena's response comes after the Enforcement Directorate on Thursday alleged that Kejriwal was eating food high in sugar like mangoes and sweets every day, despite being diabetic, to create grounds for medical bail. The Chief Minister, however, refuted the claims and said that the food he consumed was in conformity with the diet chart prepared by his doctor.

AAP reacted to the report submitted by Tihar jail authorities to the Lieutenant Governor and called it "BJP's conspiracy".

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