Jaitley admitted to hospital again

Jaitley had to skip G20 Finance Ministers meet for health reasons

Reuters New Delhi
Last Updated : Sep 23 2014 | 12:04 AM IST
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley  has returned to hospital for a check-up after an operation to treat his diabetes, his doctor said on Monday, adding the minister was doing well and should leave soon.

Jaitley had to skip a meeting of finance ministers from the Group of 20 nations in Australia last weekend after gastric bypass surgery to treat weight gain he has suffered because of a long-standing diabetic condition.

The 61-year-old lawyer, who also holds the defence portfolio in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, cancelled a public engagement on Monday and returned to the New Delhi hospital where he stayed for 10 days this month.

Though Jaitley has made no secret of his condition, his longer-than-expected stay following the minimally-invasive procedure has led commentators to question whether he was well enough to run two key ministries.

Government sources say his absence has delayed some Cabinet decisions, such as a move to reduce the state's majority share holdings in oil company ONGC, Coal India and power firm NHPC.

Jaitley checked in to the Max Institute private hospital on Sunday night for a routine post-operative examination, his doctor Pardeep Chowbey said, adding he was expected to leave hospital either later on Monday or on Tuesday.

“His condition is absolutely normal. His kidneys are doing well and weight is 101 kg, down from 118 kg before the surgery,” Chowbey said.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Sep 23 2014 | 12:04 AM IST

Next Story