Congress leader Ahmed Patel’s son, Faisal Patel, tweeted Sunday afternoon (File)
New Delhi:
Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, who tested positive for coronavirus on October 1, has been admitted to the ICU of Gurgaon’s Medanta Hospital, his family said on Sunday.
A tweet posted by his son, Faisal Patel, said the veteran politician’s condition is “stable” and that he “continues to be under medical observation”.
“On behalf of his family, we would like to share that Shri Ahmed Patel had tested positive for Covid19 a few weeks ago. He has now been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Medanta Hospital, Gurgaon for further treatment. His condition is stable and he continues to be under medical observation…We request you to pray for his speedy recovery,” Faisal Patel tweeted.
— Faisal Patel (@mfaisalpatel) November 15, 2020
Concerned Congress leaders, including Anand Sharma and Shashi Tharoor, wished Mr Patel, 71, a speedy recovery.
“Deeply concerned and praying for the good health of my friend and comrade Ahmed Patel. Please join us in praying for his early recovery,” senior Congress leader Anand Sharma tweeted.
Deeply concerned and praying for the good health of my friend and comrade @AhmedPatel. Please join us in praying for his early recovery.
— Anand Sharma (@AnandSharmaINC) November 15, 2020
Mr Tharoor described Mr Patel as an “extraordinary figure in India politics” and wished him well.
“An extraordinary figure in Indian politics, @ahmedpatel, battles for his health. I have long been an admirer of his exceptional qualities & wish him a speedy & complete recovery. He has pulled off many great victories; praying that this will be one more!” Mr Tharoor said.
An extraordinary figure in Indian politics, @ahmedpatel, battles for his health. I have long been an admirer of his exceptional qualities & wish him a speedy & complete recovery. He has pulled off many great victories; praying that this will be one more! @mfaisalpatelhttps://t.co/GTT2PPbuvH
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 15, 2020
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot tweeted saying he was worried about Mr Patel’s health.
Much concerned about the health of senior Congress leader and MP @ahmedpatel ji. My prayers & best wishes for his speedy recovery. May he gets well soon.
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) November 15, 2020
Other Congress leaders to have tested positive for the virus include Abhishek Singhvi, 61, and Tarun Gogoi, 86. Both Mr Singhvi and Mr Gogoi have since recovered.
Shortly before Faisal Patel tweeted, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh also tested positive. Mr Singh, 59, tweeted: “I have tested positive for COVID-19. I request all those who came in close contact with me recently, to self isolate and get tested.”
A number of chief ministers and union ministers have tested positive in recent months, including Home Minister Amit Shah, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his Karnataka counterpart BS Yediyurappa had also tested positive.
Several MPs and MLAs had also tested positive.
The novel coronavirus, so named because it had never previously been identified in humans, has infected over 88 lakh people in the country since the pandemic began in China’s Wuhan in December last year. This morning over 40,000 new cases were detected and around 42,000 were declared free of infection after treatment, taking the active caseload to around 4.79 lakh.
Over 1.29 lakh deaths have been linked to the Covid infection in India alone.
