Delhi Water Minister Atishi on Tuesday ended her hunger strike after her health deteriorated and she was hospitalised in the wee hours.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh announced this and said he will be writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide the national capital with its rightful share of water from Haryana. Singh said, “Since Atishi is admitted in the ICU, we must discontinue the ‘anischitkalin anshan’ (indefinite fast) for water. We will continue the agitation in other ways.” He added that the party will write a letter to the Prime Minister to consider the water crisis issue in Delhi.
Atishi, was admitted to the emergency ICU at the Lok Nayak (LNJP) Hospital, and her condition is stable now. Giving an update on Atishi's health, the hospital's Medical Director Dr Suresh Kumar said her condition is stable but she is in ICU.
"She was advised hospitalisation last evening after her sugar levels declined and the presence of ketones was detected in her urine. She had declined hospitalisation. However, at midnight, as her condition deteriorated and she was drowsy, she was admitted. She is currently stable and in the ICU. Her blood tests are being done," the senior doctor said, adding that she is being given water and is on intravenous therapy. The doctor stated that her sugar levels had declined to 36 mg/dL.
Explaining the consequences of the sharp decline, Kumar said if a person's sugar level goes below 50 mg/dL, it can have serious consequences. "Brain cells need glucose and if glucose does not reach them, it causes drowsiness and unconsciousness. If not given medical attention on time, a patient can go into a hypoglycemic coma. The fall in blood sugar levels can also lead to multiple organ failure. Hypoglycemia is a medical emergency for brain cells and other organs if not addressed in time," he added. The normal sugar levels in the blood should be between 70 mg/dL and 100 mg/dL.
A post on 'X' from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's official handle said the people of the city "will definitely give a reply to the injustice that the BJP government is doing" to the national capital. "Delhi's Water Minister Atishi ji was on an indefinite hunger strike so that the people of Delhi could get their rightful share of water. She has been admitted to the hospital after her health deteriorated last night. "Today, every Delhiite is worried about her health. The people of Delhi will definitely give a reply to the injustice that the BJP government is doing to Delhi. We all wish Atishi good health. Every Delhiite is with her in this satyagraha. Posted by: Team Arvind Kejriwal," the post, made by his team, in Hindi read.
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva wished Atishi good health and happiness. However, he stated that ‘she should stop misleading the public’. "We've been saying since June 21 that you can't do Satyagraha because you have no connection with the truth. The essence of Satyagraha is to fight for the truth. From Mahatma Gandhi and Lala Lajpat Rai to Vinoba Bhave and Anna Hazare, Satyagrahis fasted to reveal the truth, not to hide their administrative failures, as Atishi intended to do," he said.
Atishi had begun her hunger strike on June 21. AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said the minister ended her indefinite fast after she was hospitalised. At a press conference, Singh said Atishi's health deteriorated after being on fast for nearly five days and she was admitted to the LNJP Hospital around 3.45 am.
The AAP leader said all MPs of the party will write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide Delhi with its rightful share of water from Haryana. The issue will also be raised by AAP and its political allies in Parliament, he added.