Row over ‘denial’ of insulin to CM continues

AAP claims Tihar trying to kill Kejriwal; jail admin denies, says insulin not advised

THE AAM Aadmi Party (AAP) accused Tihar Jail of allegedly seeking to “kill” Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by deliberately not making insulin available to him behind bars at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

This comes even as the Director General (Prisons), on behalf of the Tihar Administration, submitted its report to L-G VK Saxena, underlining that there was “adequate availability of insulin” at its dispensary and could be administered or provided to Kejriwal as and when required during his treatment.

Senior AAP leader and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged Saturday, “I believe a big conspiracy against the CM is being concocted within the jail. While a common person in jail is provided medication for their ailments, the elected CM of Delhi is being denied medication for his illness in the same jail.”

“... He’s telling jail authorities, DG, and DIG, ‘My sugar level is increasing, please give me insulin,’ they’re saying they won’t... it has come to the point that the doctor and jail authorities are not willing to provide insulin, an elected Chief Minister is having to file a petition in court,” he alleged.

In its report to Saxena, however,thejailadministrationstated that the CM, who was being treated by a private Telanganabased doctor for diabetes, had stopped taking insulin a few months ago and, at the time of his arrest,wasjusttakingabasicantidiabetes oral tablet, Metformin.

During his medical check-ups in jail, Kejriwal, according to the report, told doctors that he was takinginsulintillthelastfewyears and had stopped a few months ago at the advice of the doctor.

“Also, as per the MLC report available from RML Hospital, Kejriwal was neither advised any insulin nor any requirement of any insulin was indicated. On 10.04.2024 and 15.04.2024, Kejriwal was reviewed by medicine specialist and advised oral anti-diabeticdrugs/medicines...it is incorrect to state he was denied insulinatanypointoftimeduring his treatment,” the report stated.

The medicine specialist after examining the CM, as per the report, noted, “Considering all parameters... administration of insulin is not required as of now.”