Maoist leader was in Delhi for ‘cancer treatment’

Kobad Ghandy,a key politburo member of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) in India who was arrested in Delhi,was in the national Capital for treatment of his prostrate cancer.

Kobad Ghandy,a key politburo member of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) in India who was arrested in Delhi,was in the national Capital for treatment of his prostrate cancer. Ghandy is said to be suffering from multiple diseases,including cardiac problems,which will be submitted in his petition to the court on Thursday.

Ghandy told the two persons who met him on Wednesday that he was neither being given medical attention by the authorities nor had his medical check-up been done even after a recommendation by the court.

Ghandy was arrested from Bhikaji Cama Place in Delhi. Sources said he had been living in a rented accommodation in Delhi for more than a year and was undergoing various tests.

Ghandy,who is in high security Jail No. 3 of Tihar,was visited by Gautam Navlakha from Peoples Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) and Rona Wilson,Secretary Public Relations of Committee for Release of Political Prisoners (CRPP). They said Ghandy was in a poor state of health. He told us that he had prostate cancer and had come here for its confirmation and treatment but before he could get any treatment done,he was arrested, Navlakha said.

He hasnt even had his medical check-up in the prison till now,nor has any medical attention been given to him, he added. Navlakha knew Ghandy during the early 80s when they worked with Economic & Political Weekly.

Navlakha and Wilson met Ghandy for 15 minutes on Wednesday at around 2 pm amid the rush of Home Minister P Chidambarams visit to the prison. Supreme Court lawyer Rajesh Tyagi has agreed to represent Ghandy after the CRPP approached him to do so.

Talking to The Indian Express,Tyagi said he would file a petition on Thursday to provide medical attention to Ghandy. We would ask the court to put Ghandy in the jail hospital and if need be and if his condition worsens,we would ask for treatment outside the jail, Tyagi said.

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Police custody was rejected on the basis of Ghandys health,but he has still not be given medical attention which is shocking.

Ghandy has been charged under Sections 10,13,18,and 20 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and will be produced before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate on October 6.