Sonia Gandhi suffers Covid complications, nosebleed

Congress may have come out with the disclosure because of a campaign that party's interim president is hiding in hospital from Enforcement Directorate

Sonia Gandhi.: File photo

TT Special Correspondent   |   New Delhi   |   18.06.22  : Sonia Gandhi suffered serious Covid complications, including profuse bleeding from the nose, and some of the problems are still being addressed, the Congress revealed on Friday.

While Randeep Surjewala had merely said that Sonia had been admitted to the Gangaram Hospital because of Covid-related issues, the party’s new communications chief Jairam Ramesh issued a statement on Friday afternoon giving details.

The party may have come out with the disclosure because of a campaign that Sonia is hiding in hospital from the Enforcement Directorate, which has summoned her and son Rahul for questioning in the National Herald money-laundering case.

Ramesh said: “Sonia Gandhi was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, on the afternoon of June 12, 2022, when she developed profuse bleeding from the nose following a recent Covid infection.”

“She was immediately put under treatment and underwent a related follow-up procedure yesterday morning. A fungal infection in her lower respiratory tract was also detected upon admission. She is currently being treated for it along with other post-Covid symptoms. She continues to be under close observation and treatment.”

BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya had on June 9 tweeted: “Only the guilty fear law. Rahul wants Congress MPs to cover his sins. Sonia hid behind Covid to avoid ED. Compare this to how PM Modi as Gujarat CM, when called by the SIT welcomed investigation, walked in fearlessly and faced questions for 10 hours. Gandhis can’t escape law.”

BJP spokespersons Sambit Patra and Gaurav Bhatia too have suggested during TV debates that Congress leaders hide in hospitals to avoid interrogation.

The Congress claimed Sonia had been determined to answer the ED summons despite her illness but her condition deteriorated and she had to be admitted to hospital.

While Priyanka Gandhi Vadra stayed in the hospital for four nights, Rahul has been doing so since Thursday. He visited the hospital during lunch break and late in the night after the ED interrogation.