In a deeply distressing turn of events, former Delhi Minister Shri Satyendar Jain’s health has severely deteriorated during his time in jail, prompting urgent medical attention. He was admitted to the Safdarjung Hospital in the morning after he complained of extreme spinal pain, owing to his long-standing deteriorating spinal condition resulting from a fall in Jail. The images captured at Safdarjung Hospital this morning present a heartbreaking sight, as he appears as nothing more than a living skeleton, frail and weak, struggling to even walk.
Reacting to the photos shared by the media on Twitter, CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, “I pray to God for the betterment of Satyendar Jain ji’s health soon. The people of Delhi and the whole country are watching this arrogance and oppression of the BJP government very closely. Even God will never forgive them for oppression. The public is with us in this struggle, God is with us, we are the disciples of Sardar Bhagat Singh. Our fight against oppression, injustice and dictatorship will continue.”
Shri Satyendar Jain’s condition has deteriorated after a debilitating injury from a fall in the jail washroom, which resulted in a spinal injury leaving him in excruciating pain. The gravity of the situation demands an immediate spinal surgery, as recommended by his attending doctors.
A closer examination of Shri Satyendar Jain’s medical condition reveals a troubling array of ailments. He suffers from acute lumbar pain, causing vertigo and chronic lower back pain due to a slipped disc. The pain radiates throughout his lower limbs, leaving him with a constant tingling sensation and decreased mobility.
A recent MRI conducted on 03.05.2023 demonstrates degeneration in all intervertebral discs of Shri Satyendar Jain leading the doctors to advise urgent spinal/vertebral surgery and proper post-operative care. However, Shri Jain has been placed as No. 416 on a waiting list by Jail authorities, and is expected to be able to undergo the surgery only after a further 5 months.
Additionally, Shri Satyendar Jain is also suffering from sleep apnea which poses a grave threat, with his breathing frequently seizing during sleep at night, potentially leading to dire consequences. As a result he has to sleep with the assistance of a BiPAP machine which continuously pushes air into his lungs.
One cannot overlook the immense sacrifices made by Shri Satyendar Jain, who, for an entire year, has subsisted on nothing more than fruits and raw vegetables while behind bars. Despite being in jail for around a whole year now, a devout Jain and a deeply spiritual individual, the former Delhi Health Minister, has pledged to not consume a single grain of food (अन्न-अनाज) before he visits a temple.
The toll on his body is evident, as he has lost a staggering 35 kilograms, succumbing to the effects of Muscular Atrophy. This unimaginable weight loss serves as a sombre reminder of the physical and emotional challenges he has faced during his imprisonment. However, the physical hardships are not the only burden that he carries. His spirit has been severely tested, and the weight of depression has settled upon him.
Moreover, the scars of his battle with COVID-19 last year have not fully healed. He carries a patch on his lungs ever since his near-fatal encounter with the virus he caught while serving the state of Delhi tirelessly during the peak of the pandemic.
As per sources in the AAP, the party leaders are extremely concerned about the health of their colleague. The general opinion among AAP leaders is that this situation of Shri Satyendar Jain extends beyond the boundaries of politics or differences. It reaches into the core of our shared humanity. The emotional turmoil and physical anguish that he endures stir the deepest sympathies within everyone.
Earlier this month, on May 15, Shri Satyendar Jain moved a plea in the Supreme Court, seeking bail in the alleged money laundering case against him. He has challenged the Delhi High Court’s order dismissing his bail plea in the alleged case. Last week, the Supreme Court sought the response of the ED on the bail plea. A bench of Justices AS Bopanna and Hima Kohli issued notice to the ED and granted liberty to Shri Satyendar Jain to move before the vacation bench for relief. He has been in custody since May 30 last year.
