Date:19/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/19/stories/2008051959451200.htm

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Prime Minister visits Surjeet

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The condition of the veteran Marxist leader Harkishan Singh Surjeet continued to be critical on Sunday and doctors treating him at a private nursing home in Noida rated his chances of survival as “very slim.”

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited the Metro hospital where the 92-year-old-leader is admitted. “The overall picture considering his age, his coming back from coma looks very difficult,” Dr. Purushottam Lal, head of the Cardiology Department, told reporters.

“His survival is very uncertain, chances are very less. It is a matter of a few days,” Dr. Lal said. The CPI(M) leader was admitted to the hospital with an acute respiratory problem on May 6.

The Prime Minister, who was at the Metro Hospital for nearly 15 minutes enquired about his condition from the doctors attending on him. Dr. Singh also had a word with Mr. Surjeet’s family members.