Former Union Minister and veteran MP E. Ahamed passed away here early on Wednesday after a cardiac arrest.
“E. Ahamed passed away at 2.15 a.m. The body has been taken to AIIMS hospital for embalming as the facility is not available at RML,” PTI quoted a senior doctor of Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital as saying.
The 78-year-old Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader’s death cast a shadow over the Union Budget, as he was a member of the Lok Sabha from Malappuram in Kerala.
Protocol ignored
While the Congress demanded that the Budget be postponed as a mark of respect to him, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan allowed the Budget to be presented, citing a “constitutional obligation”. She, however, said the Lower House would not transact any business on Thursday.
The Congress accused the Centre of delaying the announcement of the death to facilitate the presentation of the Budget.
The veteran leader had collapsed during the President’s address at the joint sitting of Parliament on Tuesday.
“Saddened by the demise of Mr. E. Ahamed, a veteran political leader who served the nation with great diligence,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.
“The continuous efforts of Mr. E. Ahamed for the empowerment of the Muslim community will be remembered.”
Congress president Sonia Gandhi said: “He was a committed democrat and beloved leader of Kerala, whose simple lifestyle and commitment to the cause of people was an example to an entire generation.” Vice-president Hamid Ansari, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and many other leaders condoled Mr. Ahamed’s demise.
Congress protests
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the government for presenting the Union Budget despite Mr. Ahamed’s death. “They had information [about E. Ahamed’s death] and could have decided yesterday [to make it public], but they put that on hold. They thought they will take a decision after the presentation of the Budget,” he said.
“This is an inhuman act. To deal with a politician like this at such a time is not acceptable ... They could have postponed the Budget and conducted it tomorrow but they have dismissed this.”
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also hit out at the Centre: “Presenting Budget in the same building within hours after his death was totally improper and unfortunate.”
Mr. Ahamed served as Minister of State for External Affairs and Railways in the UPA government, besides holding the additional charge of the Ministry of Human Resource Development.
On Wednesday, the Lok Sabha began its proceedings by paying homage to Mr. Ahamed. Soon after, Mr. Kharge said the House should be adjourned for the day as a mark of respect to Mr. Ahamed as per tradition, a request the Speaker turned down.
Hospital clarifies
Denying claims of having deviated from protocol in offering treatment to Mr. Ahamed, the hospital administration maintained that “all medical efforts were made by the doctors here to ensure that the very best treatment and care was offered to the leader.”
Mr. Ahamed’s family members and former Defence Minister A.K. Antony have described the behaviour of the hospital as cruel. Mr. Antony said he was pained by the fact that the family members of the former Union Minister were allegedly not allowed to meet him nor informed about his health at the government-run hospital.
In a one-page clarification by the hospital, medical superintendent A.K. Gadpayle maintained that the leader was brought to the hospital at 12.27 p.m. on Tuesday and was in cardiac arrest. “The team of experts managed to resuscitate him by putting pacemaker, ventilator and CPR. He was revived,” he said.
“The leader was suffering from diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, etc., and he was admitted six months back in CCU of RML Hospital with heart failure. The team treated him by application of various measures like ventilator, pacemaker, IV fluids and other logistic supports after his admission in hospital. But despite our best efforts the leader died on Wednesday,” said a release.
(With inputs from PTI)
