People's Democracy

Comrade Surjeet Critical

VETERAN CPI(M) leader and its former general secretary, Comrade Harkishan Singh Surjeet, had come out of coma by the time we go to press, but his condition continues to be critical. He is under treatment in the Metro Hospital in NOIDA, which is adjacent to Delhi.

According to the doctors treating Surjeet, his condition is critical but stable. His body organs were properly functioning even when he was in coma.

The 92 years old leader was hospitalised on May 6 when his health began to deteriorate.

Later he developed breathing problem and suddenly his condition became very critical on May 15. His heart and other organs began to function again after the doctors made serious effort, but he went into coma.

A number of leaders of various parties have so far visited the hospital and inquired about his health. These included the prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Congress president and UPA chairperson Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee, union ministers Laloo Prasad Yadav, Prabab Mukherjee, T R Balu, Ram Vilas Paswan, Arjun Singh and Jaipal Reddy, opposition leader L K Advani, CPI general secretary A K Bardhan, UP chief minister Ms Mayawati, and SP president Mulayam Singh Yadav. Apart from numerous leaders of the party, Kerala chief minister V S Achuthanandan and Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar also visited the hospital and inquired about Comrade Surjeet�s condition. A three member TDP delegation led by Yerran Naidu and including Hari Krishna and Laljan Basha also visited the hospital.

May 22, 2008