(Image source from: Is all really well with Arun Jaitley?})
It's almost a month now since Union Finance and Defence Minister Arun Jaitley was last seen active. And despite repeated reassurances from Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan that his health is fast improving, rumors have started to float in Bharatiya Janata Party office regarding inadequate information on Jaitley's health.
“Nearly a month has passed since Jaitleyji was seen active, and we are made to believe that it is just a minor health problem,” said a BJP leader, who requested anonymity. “I hope there is nothing serious about his health, but the whole attempt to suppress information does tend to raise questions about his well-being.”
61-one-year-old Jaitley underwent “a planned diabetes management surgery” on September 2 at Max Super Specialty Hospital in South Delhi. A few weeks later, he developed fresh complications and was readmitted for further treatment.
He was believed to be suffering from gastroenteritis and a respiratory infection. On Sunday, Jaitley was moved to All India Institute of Medical Sciences and put at the special isolation facility at the Cardiothoracic and Neurosciences Centre in All India Institute of Medical Sciences.
A source revealed, “Jaitley has recovered satisfactorily from respiratory infection. He has been advised further rest in complete isolation to avoid any recurrence of infection.”
A section of the BJP believes that there is a conspiracy to spread rumours about the minister's health. “In politics, rumours, too, are planned down to their last detail,” said a leader from the party's Uttar Pradesh unit.
On being asked to name the persons whom could be instigating the grapevine, the BJP leader replied, “Everyone knows which minister in Modiji’s government is fighting a cold war with Jaitleyji. Go and ask this question to anyone inside or outside the BJP and you would know the answer. ”
However, the effort to downplay the seriousness of Jaitley being moved to AIIMS from Max Hospital have apparently sparked more rumors than ever. From the moment he was shifted to AIIMS, the rumour mills started working overtime. On Monday, almost every political leader seemed eager to discover Jaitley's “real ailment”.
Later in the day, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan tried to put the speculation to rest by saying that there was nothing intrinsically wrong with his colleague's health. “Jaitleyji is improving and he will be better soon,” Vardhan said. “He just needs rest, there is nothing wrong.”
AW: Suchorita Choudhury
