Further vitiating the political atmosphere in Andhra Pradesh, the health condition of YSRC chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy deteriorated as the deeksha entered the sixth day on Monday near Nallapadu in Guntur district.
The Opposition leader is on a fast, demanding special category status for the state. A group of private doctors expressed fear that his condition is deteriorating, and will require medical attention as sugar levels and blood pressure are falling down, and ketone levels are increasing. The doctors on Monday said that a drastic weight loss was also observed. Jagan’s mother Vijayamma and wife Bharati Reddy, YSR Congress leaders, workers and a huge number of supporters have expressed concern at his deteriorating health condition.
However, the AP government expressed suspicion over the seriousness of Jagan’s fast saying the blood sugar levels actually rose rather than deteriorating. While blood sugar levels in the glucometer showed as 88 mg, it was 77 mg in the meter brought by the private doctors. “Actually the blood sugar levels should decrease while on fast. Either the first report was wrong or there was an intake of food,” Dr K Srinivas, AP Health Minister said. Responding to the comments made by the health minister, Y S Jagan charged that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was resorting to malign Jagan’s image by fudging test results. “I don’t know whether Dr Srinivas is really a doctor or not. How can blood levels rise on the fifth day? If the glucometers are not functioning, it’s not my fault,” he said.
Meanwhile, doctors from Guntur General Hospital have advised Jagan to take some food immediately as the level of ketones in blood is increasing. “This might damage his kidneys,” Dr Uday Sankar told the YSRC party functionaries at the deeksha site. “Our leader, however is determined to continue the fast till the government makes an announcement giving special status to AP,” party leader Botsa Satyanarayana said.
In Kadapa, the native district of Jagan, YSRC supporters took to streets raising slogans in support of their leader’s fast unto death. The police arrested them as they had tried to disrupt traffic on the main road.