Kunal Ghosh condition ‘critical’ after hunger strike

Kolkata: The health condition of Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha member, Kunal Ghosh, who is in jail for his alleged role in the Saradha chit fund scam has deteriorated after being on hunger strike for 29 days.

Ghosh, who is lodged at the Presidency Correctional Home, complained of breathlessness, muscle cramps, severe stomach pain and shivering following which jail doctors attended to him and described his condition as “very critical”.

Ghosh has refused food accusing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of an unfair trial in the Saradha scam, even as jail authorities appealed to the court to shift him to a state-run hospital.

Officials said in the last few weeks they have tried everything including getting Ghosh’s mother to offer him food to which he refused claiming that while the kingpins of the scam are out, he was languishing in prison.

Ghosh in the past has also accused chief minister Mamata Banerjee of being involved in the scam and even challenged the CBI to interrogate them jointly. “If anyone has derived the most benefit from Saradha Media, then it is the chief minister,” Ghosh had earlier said in the court.

“Mamata Banerjee and Mukul Roy are also involved ... I have specific information, I can provide this if I am questioned by CBI,” he had said.

Ghosh got unsolicited support from the state Congress party leaders with Congress leader Somen Mitra even visiting him in the jail hospital. “He is like a younger brother and when I heard he is on a hunger strike I came to visit her,” said Mitra. Even state Congress party president Adhir Chaudhury is expected to visit him. “While the others who were arrested in the scam has got bail why is he still there,” questioned Chaudhury.

“A 26-day hunger strike changed the political landscape of Bengal in 2007. Hope he also achieves similar results though his sacrifice,” said Mitra comparing Banerjee’s hunger strike against the proposed Tata factory in Singur.

“Her [Banerjee] hunger strike was for justice and she did it in front of the world not behind bars. Congress party leaders are just keen for some cheap publicity,” said state minister Partha Chatterjee.