The ongoing debate surrounding Delhi Chief Minister and national convenor of AAP Arvind Kejriwal’s health and treatment while in judicial custody has stirred controversy with the Tihar jail authorities claiming that the inmate’s weight has increased by 1 kg, contrary to earlier statements by his party leaders claiming a drastic weight loss of 4.5 kg.
On Wednesday, Tihar administration In its report on vitals of the Chief Minister showed that his weight has gone up by 1 kg, from 65 kgs to 66 kgs. Kejriwal’s weight remained stable at 65 kgs from his arrival at the jail on April 1 to April 3 according to the jail authorities. On his arrival, his sugar level was 139 mg/dL followed by 182 mg/dL on April 2 and 140 mg/dL on April 3. His blood pressure was 120/82 on April 1, 121/83 on April 2 and 116/82 on April 3.
However, the AAP has alleged that Kejriwal’s blood sugar levels have deteriorated, pointing to fasting blood sugar levels above normal parameters. AAP leaders, including Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Sanjay Singh, have accused the Centre of subjecting Kejriwal to harsh treatment and infringing upon his basic rights.
Singh’s comparison of the situation to “Hitler’s gas chamber” and claims of the BJP attempting to emotionally break Kejriwal underscore the heightened tensions and political rhetoric surrounding the case.
Kejriwal has been lodged in jail number 2 of the Tihar prison since April 1 in the alleged money laundering linked excise policy scam. He will remain in judicial custody till April 15. Earlier, the Tihar administration had made similar claims on the health of MP Sanjay Singh who is on bail. As per the Tihar prison officials, the Rajya Sabha member had gained six kg in six months.
According to the data released, Singh weighed 76 kg during his initial medical checkup at the Tihar Jail.
His blood pressure was recorded at 153/103.
Hitting back at the Tihar administration and Modi government, the AAP alleged that his sugar levels have deteriorated as the blood sugar fasting levels shown on the health bulletin of kejriwal is 160 mg/dL while the normal should be 70 mg/dL.
“Arvind Kejriwal, popularly elected with a resounding majority three times, is being held by the Modi government in jail through its Hitleresque means. They (Modi Government) want to impose Hitler rules on him. They want to turn Tihar Jail in Delhi into Hitler’s gas chamber. PM Modi is curtailing CM Arvind Kejriwal rights, which are even provided to the most dreaded criminals in jail,” Sanjay Singh said.
He alleged that the BJP was trying to break Kejriwal emotionally, claiming that the jail authorities threatened to restrict Kejriwal meetings with his family and lawyer after he sent a message to AAP MLAs to visit their constituencies through his lawyers.
The AAP leader also asserted that 8 to 10 policemen surrounded Kejriwal from all sides during his legal meeting with his lawyers in jail, which is against the rules of no one overhearing the prisoner’s conversation with
his lawyer.
