Date:20/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/20/stories/2008052060031400.htm

National

Surjeet continues to be critical

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The condition of veteran Marxist leader Harkishan Singh Surjeet, who was admitted to a hospital in Noida with an acute respiratory problem, remained critical on Monday.

Mr. Surjeet, 92, who was admitted to the Metro Hospital on May 6, had slipped into a coma two days ago.

“He is in a coma and is not responding,” said Purushottam Lal, who is monitoring his condition at the hospital.

“Though his vital organs are stable, his condition is neither better nor worse. He had seizures and was medicated for it and his brain is still functioning,” he said.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday visited the hospital to enquire about his condition. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat and Polit Bureau member and MP Brinda Karat were among those who visited the hospital on Monday.