Gadkari faints on stage at Ahmednagar event

NAGPUR: Union minister for transport, shipping and water resources Nitin Gadkari fainted during a function in Ahmednagar on Friday afternoon. He was examined by a team of doctors present at the venue. Later, he visited the Saibaba temple at Shirdi and flew to his home town Nagpur, landing there at 4.30pm.

After arriving at the airport, Gadkari said he was feeling better and would take rest.

“I was feeling uneasy because of scorching sunlight. My blood pressure and sugar are normal. I was attended to by doctors and I am now doing well. I am ok now. Nothing to worry. Going home and would take rest. I thank you all for your wishes,” he said.

Gadkari, 61, got dizzy and almost collapsed while the national anthem was playing during the convocation ceremony of the Mahatma Phule Agricultural University at Rahuri in Ahmednagar. Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao and others on dais caught hold of him before he was about to fall. The incident happened after Gadkari addressed the audience at the ceremony.

He was taken to a government guest house and examined by a team of doctors.

A diabetic, Gadkari’s condition was “stable”, said Atul Mandekar, officer on special duty.

Gadkari also said he would undergo a complete check-up at a private nursing home in Nagpur on Saturday.

Maharashtra minister for energy, Chandrasekhar Bawankule, who was at Nagpur airport to receive him, said Gadkari’s hectic schedule in public life might have taken a toll on his health.

PRESIDENT, PM, BJP CHIEF CALLS GADKARI

“President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah personally called Gadkari and enquired about his health,” said Sudhir Deulgaonkar, his personal secretary for the past 20 years.

PLEASE TAKE CARE, TWEETS PAWAR

NCP chief Sharad Pawar said as he has asked Gadkari to take care of his health. “Sometimes hard work takes a toll on health! @nitin_gadkari ji please take care. I wish you a very good health!!” Pawar tweeted.