Sharad Pawar discharged from Ruby Hall hospital in Pune; PM Modi phones to ask after his health

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) president Sharad Pawar was discharged today from Ruby Hall hospital in Pune, where he had been admitted for two days. He left the hospital and headed straight for Silver Oak, his residence in Mumbai. MP Supriya Sule and Pratibha Pawar were with him.

Doctors have advised Pawar to rest, and his condition is said to be fine. His health had worsened two days earlier, after which he was immediately admitted to Ruby Hall. He had a cough and felt tired. Treatment began at once at the hospital and a number of tests were carried out. He was discharged now that his condition is stable.

Pawar was on a tour of drought-hit areas at the time. The weather changed with sun and sudden rain, and he developed a cough. His drought inspection tour was then cancelled, and all his scheduled programmes were also called off. He will rest at Silver Oak in Mumbai for the next few days.

Vitthal Maniyar, a close associate of Pawar, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned Pawar. According to Maniyar, many calls came in to ask after Pawar's health, but the important one today was from Modi. He asked about Pawar's health and said warmly, "Sharadrao, take care of your health. Supriya Sule is there to look after the country, and we will work with her. You rest and keep giving us guidance, keep showing us the way. It is necessary that you take care and keep a little distance from these matters. Our wish is that you stay in good health, that we keep getting your advice, and that you remain fit." Maniyar said Modi expressed his wish in this way and also extended good wishes.

Maniyar also said doctors have told Pawar to cut down on tours, travel less and keep some restrictions on it. The second matter is diet. According to Maniyar, Pawar is not very careful about what he eats and drinks, and he has to be told repeatedly to eat this or that. After the operation, "Saheb" has to take a liquid diet, and a person gets bored of a liquid diet because it is the same thing every day. Maniyar said this is now changing a little, and Pawar is eating roti and the like with milk. This will gradually reduce his weakness. He said Pawar should rest for two to four days.

After his discharge, Pawar was brought out of the hospital in a wheelchair. Seeing party workers and office-bearers outside, he raised his hand in greeting. A picture of this has emerged. He then got into a car and left for Mumbai. Before he left, Supriya Sule thanked the hospital's doctors and all the staff with folded hands.