Conspiracy, says Lalu as AIIMS discharges him

New Delhi: RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav cried “conspiracy” on Monday after being discharged from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences here after doctors said his health had improved significantly and he was fit to travel by train to Jharkhand’s Ranchi, where he is serving a jail sentence related to the fodder scam.

Prior to his discharge in a wheelchair, and against his wishes, Congress president Rahul Gandhi met the RJD chief at AIIMS. The RJD sees a political conspiracy behind the move to shift Mr Yadav from AIIMS to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences in Ranchi.

BJP chief Amit Shah, meanwhile, accused Congress president Rahul Gandhi of being a “hypocrite” for going to meet Mr Yadav at AIIMS. “Rahul Gandhi tore off the ordinance brought by Manmohan Singh to save Lalu Yadav when in power, but now goes to meet the convicted leader in the fodder scam to take his support for the 2019 elections. This dual face of Rahul Gandhi is exposed,” Mr Shah tweeted. The RJD chief's supporters created ruckus in the hospital premises protesting against AIIMS’ decision, with his party alleging there was a conspiracy to “murder” their leader by forcing him out of AIIMS though he continues to suffer from various ailments. AIIMS sources said that in the melee, the supporters broke a glass door which left a security guard injured, and abused administration officials, including the hospital director.

AIIMS lodged a police complaint against unidentified people over the matter.

Mr Yadav's last visitor at AIIMS on Monday morning was Mr Gandhi, who sat with him for about 30 minutes. “Mr Gandhi met the RJD chief at his private room in the hospital and exchanged some notes,” a Congress source said.

AIIMS sources said the medical team formed to decide on Mr Lalu Yadav's treatment had decided to discharge him on Saturday and prepared the discharge papers, but the RJD chief requested that he be kept in the hospital till Monday as he wanted to travel by the Ranchi Rajdhani Express. Mr Yadav left AIIMS in a wheelchair at around 3.25 pm on Monday.

AIIMS said in a statement: “Lalu Prasad was referred from Ranchi Medical College to AIIMS for management of his acute medical condition. He has improved significantly and as per advice of the medical board constituted for his treatment, he is being referred back to Ranchi Medical College for management of his chronic issues. He is currently stable and is fit to travel.”

After his discharge, the RJD chief wrote to the AIIMS director saying he was unwell and should not be shifted. Mr Yadav said the hospital's decision was sudden and inexplicable. “This is unfair; it is a conspiracy to endanger Lalu Yadav's health. I am being shifted to a place where there are no facilities. It is a tough time, but I will face it,” said Mr Yadav while speaking to reporters. Mr Yadav's younger son Tejashwi Yadav told reporters: “It seems the decision to shift him back has been taken in a hurry. He is not well and needs good medical treatment. AIIMS is better equipped than RIIMS.”

RJD insiders told this newspaper he was being treated for multiple ailments, including heart and kidney-related problems. Mr Yadav had earlier submitted a petition in the Jharkhand high court seeking bail on health grounds. On April 20, the court directed officials to submit his health reports. The matter is likely to be heard again on May 4.

His bail application earlier over the illegal withdrawal of `89.27 lakhs from the Deoghar treasury was, however, rejected by the high court in February.

Mr Yadav, despite being a convict and undergoing medical treatment, has been holding meetings with top leaders from various parties, including senior NDA leaders like Upendra Kushwaha of RLSP, BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha and Congress president Rahul Gandhi. “He has been holding a series of meetings with political leaders inside the hospital. Rahul Gandhi must clarify his stand on corruption as he was the one who tore the ordinance of the Manmohan Singh government meant to protect convicted prisoners," JD(U) spokesman Niraj Kumar said.