10 reasons government must come clean on E Ahamed's death

Former Union minister and Indian Union Muslim League MP E Ahamed died at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital early morning on February 1, having suffered a cardiac arrest the previous day.

His death has stirred a political controversy owing to its timing.

National general secretary of the Congress and Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Nabi Azad demanded a discussion in Parliament alleging that Ahamed had passed away “much earlier” than declared at RML Hospital, but the government wanted to keep his body there until the Union budget was presented.

Sitaram Yechury of the CPI-M sought a probe into the manner in which the death of the former Union minister was "handled", alleging he had died soon after being rushed to hospital, but his demise was announced much later.

The time of Ahamed's demise was announced as 2.15am, hours after he collapsed in Parliament during President Pranab Mukherjee's speech. What happened in between is what created controversy.

Let's have a look at the allegations the opposition and Ahamed's family have levelled against the government.

1.

The family and supporters of Ahamed and leaders of the Opposition have insinuated that the government deliberately kept news of his death a secret for several hours because they did not want to postpone the Budget.

The Congress party has accused the government of keeping the body at the hospital because it wanted to go ahead with presenting Union Budget on February 1 despite Opposition parties demanding its postponement. Sitaram Yechury also alleged "interference" from "the PMO".

2.

The Congress leadership stated that Ahamed's family was not allowed to see him at the hospital. It has gone on to blame the Intelligence Bureau. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders also went to the hospital to see Ahamed, but were not permitted to meet him.

3.

Ahamed’s son-in-law Dr Babu was heard saying that he and his wife were doctors and did not understand why they were not allowed to meet his father. After an argument with the attending doctors, his Ahamed's daughter Fousiya was allowed a glimpse of him; that too through a glass window.

4.

One of the few visitors allowed inside during the day was Jitendra Singh, minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office. After his visit, no one was permitted to see Ahamed.

Reports say the hospital went incommunicado after the minister visited the hospital. Soon after Singh’s visit, Ahamed was shifted from the ICU to the trauma care centre.

5.

A close aide of Ahamed was reported as saying that his eyes were covered when he was taken out of the ICU, which the doctors said was owing to a procedure to stop the eyes from drying up. This has strengthened the family's suspicion.

6.

The hospital kept Ahamed’s health status in extreme secrecy, not even allowing his family members, close aides, Parliament colleagues and children to see him, or keeping them sufficiently informed.

This forced Ahamed’s son and son-in-law to speak up saying that they had been kept in the dark about their father’s health.

7.

Unable to deal with the methods of the hospital, Ahamed's family demanded that the Congress leader be shifted to another hospital, and threatened to go to police if they weren't allowed to do so. The hospital supposedly refused to budge despite the threat.

8.

Ahamed's daughter and son-in-law, both qualified doctors, found something amiss in every step that the hospital was adopting - be it shifting him out to the trauma care, attempting medical procedures without family consent, refusing even a glimpse of the patient.

9.

After a sitting member's death, the House is traditionally adjourned. This was not done after Ahamed's death. Opposition parties said the budget must be postponed by a day as a mark of respect, but the government went ahead with budget.

10.

One of the reasons cited by government sources is that it would be too difficult to put off the budget as it involves secrecy. But the Opposition says budget preparation takes months and if secrecy could be maintained throughout the time, why not consider a day's delay.

It's imperative that the government puts these doubts to rest. If necessary, why not order a probe? Let the ordinary citizens judge for themselves who is playing politics over E Ahamed's death. Is it the Opposition or Narendra Modi and his dispensation?