Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal (file photo).
New Delhi:
Arvind Kejriwal has petitioned the Raus Avenue Court in Delhi asking Tihar jail officials to provide him with insulin. News agency ANI said the appeal will be held at 2 pm.
The Aam Aadmi Party of Delhi’s chief minister, who was arrested last month in connection with the liquor policy scam and is a type 2 diabetic, claimed last night that insulin was “not given despite repeated requests”. AAP leader Atishi claimed there was a “conspiracy to murder” Mr Kejriwal.
The Enforcement Directorate arrested Mr Kejriwal on March 21, hours after Atishi filed charges and declined a request for a video consultation with his regular doctor. Lawyers for the investigating agency told Rouse Avenue Court that the AAP leader’s condition, if severe, was triggered by regular consumption of mangoes and sweets and drinking sweetened tea, which were not suitable for diabetics.
“(Mr Kejriwal) had mangoes and sweets on his diet chart…it was submitted to the court. (Mr Kejriwal) regularly consumed foods that are not allowed for diabetics,” the agency’s lawyer said.
Therefore, the emergency room objected to Mr. Kejriwal’s request for a video consultation with his regular physician.
Read | AAP claims ‘plan to kill Kejriwal in jail’ amid ‘mango-eating’ scandal
Hours later, an angry Atish hit back, accusing the BJP of “being unable to defeat Arvind Kejriwal in three elections”.
“…(So) a plan is being made to kill him by putting him in jail,” Atish claimed.
“Everyone knows that Arvind Kejriwal is a severe diabetic…he has been suffering from it for the past 30 years. To control his blood sugar levels, he takes 54 units of insulin every day,” she continued.
“Ask any doctor…Only someone with severe diabetes would take so much insulin. That’s why the court allowed Arvind Kejriwal to eat homemade food prescribed by doctors…”
Read | AAP says Kejriwal became unwell in jail and lost 4.5kg, but officials disagree
Atishi also refuted the Education Department’s suggestion that Mr Kejriwal ate sweets inside the prison, saying: “This is a complete lie… Kejriwalji can drink tea and eat sweets with doctor-prescribed sweeteners. This is a low-level behavior .” Caloric sweeteners for diabetics. “
She also slammed the ED’s suggestion that Mr Kejriwal ate bananas to increase his blood sugar levels, which reportedly dropped to a dangerously low 46mg when he was first jailed. “I would say to the ER…talk to any diabetes doctor. Patients are told to keep the bananas and some kind of toffee…”
“If the Ministry of Education had read the court order, it would have clearly stated that when Kejrivarji is detained or imprisoned by the Ministry of Education, he must have some kind of toffee and banana with him,” she said, referring to the American Pediatrics Learn instructions. Leaders are allowed to make their own food, bottled water and toffee.
Meanwhile, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has asked the city’s top jail officer to submit a report alleging that Kejriwal was not provided insulin in Tihar Jail.
Why was Arvind Kejriwal arrested?
Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 for allegedly running a liquor policy scam in the national capital. Investigative agencies believe the chief minister played a key role in drafting the now-abandoned policy and seeking bribes or kickbacks in exchange for liquor licences.
Read | Kejriwal remains in jail for now, Supreme Court refuses early hearing
The AAP and Mr Kejriwal rejected all allegations and called the arrest and case, which comes weeks before the Lok Sabha elections, a “political vendetta”.
Mr Kejriwal has challenged his arrest in the Supreme Court. However, the Supreme Court refused to hold an early hearing. He must now wait until the court reconvenes on April 29 to hear the ED’s response.
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