New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi was back home on Tuesday after being discharged in the early hours from AIIMS where she was admitted on being taken ill in Lok Sabha as Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders wished her good health.
67-year-old Gandhi, who spent about five hours in the hospital where she was admitted on Monday night and was discharged after her check-up was completed, did not attend Parliament on Tuesday.
Apart from Modi, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj also wished her speedy recovery. Congress General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi told PTI, “The Congress President has come back, she is all right and her medical check-up has been completed.” AIIMS Director R C Deka said, “She had cough…she had headache. She took medicines after which she felt uneasiness in Parliament, that is why she was here. We put (her through) all the test required for such diseases and we found her normal, and she has left in her own car talking to all the doctors, and thanking all of us.”
Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said, “Madam, it looks, had medicines for common cold and headache, as a result of which she had some uneasiness and she had to be brought to AIIMS and now all test have been conducted and she is perfectly fine and has gone home.”
Gandhi left Parliament at 2015 hours on Monday while the voting was underway on various amendments moved by the Opposition and was rushed to AIIMS.
She could not be present in the Lower House when the landmark bill was passed.
Meanwhile, Modi wished Gandhi the best of health and, at the same time, said she should have been taken to the hospital in a well-equipped ambulance. “Glad to know that Sonia ji’s health is fine. Wishing her the best of health in future,” Modi tweeted a few hours after the Congress president was discharged from the hospital.
Commenting on the medical facility in Parliament, Modi said on his micro-blogging site, “Concerned that basic medical emergency procedures were not used. Would have been better if wheel chair or stretcher was used in Parliament.” However, he further said, “Considering her health, Sonia ji should have been taken to hospital in a well-equipped ambulance. Still, doctors are best judges.”
In a tweet, senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj wished Gandhi a speedy recovery. Gandhi complained of exhaustion and mild chest pain and was taken to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as a precautionary measure before she was shifted to the Cardio-Neuro Centre, AIIMS hospital sources said.
She underwent some tests including an ECG and was under observation at AIIMS where top doctors including its director Deka attended on her. Balram Airon, Head of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery Department, was monitoring Gandhi’s health condition.
The Congress chief was stated to be suffering from viral fever since Sunday and was suddenly taken ill after spearheading UPA’s ambitious Food Security Bill in Lok Sabha on Monday.
She was seen leaving Parliament Monday night holding the hand of Union Minister Selja before boarding a vehicle. Her son and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi also accompanied her.
Daughter Priyanka and son-in-law Robert Vadra were with her at the hospital. “She was very concerned about the food bill and she was regretting that she could not be present in Parliament (when the voting was on). Then we told her the bill has been passed. She expressed happiness over it. “Everything is normal with her. There is nothing to worry. She is completely fine. All the tests have been conducted,” Selja said. Dwivedi said, “There is nothing to worry. She is completely fine.”
Several Congress leaders had gone to AIIMS to inquire about Gandhi’s condition. Dwivedi said that based on the available information from doctors, some medicines did not suit her and problems erupted because of their reactions.
Doctors had examined at her at home on Sunday and on Monday as well, sources said.
Gandhi had led the party in the debate on the landmark bill in Lok Sabha, describing it as a measure to wipe out hunger from the country. (PTI)