By IANS,
Kolkata: Veteran Marxist Jyoti Basu has fever and his urine output declined Monday evening as the 95-year-old leader’s condition continued to be critical with no improvement, the doctors attending to him said.
“He still continues to be critical on partial ventilator support. He had fever Monday evening,” said cardiologist A. K. Maity, who is member of the eight-member medical board set up to treat Basu, admitted in the AMRI Hospital with pneumonia since Jan 1.
“Overall, his condition remained unchanged. The urine output is satisfactory, though it has gone down since the evening,” Maity said.
But there was no need for any dialysis now, he added.
The doctor said Basu’s sensorium or level of alertness has also not shown any improvement Monday.
The board was in contact with specialists at the country’s premier medical facility All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) while Basu continued to be given ionotropes for stabilising the blood pressure level.
The medical bulletin issued by the AMRI Hospital Sunday had said the former West Bengla chief minister’s general condition was critical but marginally better compared to Saturday.
Former state chief minister Siddhartha Shankar Ray came to the hospital Monday to see his “friend” Basu.
“I have come to see a person whom I love and know for 60 years. He is a fighter and I know he will succeed. Jyoti is a close friend. I wish and pray he gets well soon,” said Ray ,who was chief minister from 1972 to 1977.
A Buddhist monk also visited the hospital.
“We have come to see Jyoti Basu and wish he gets well soon. We will pray to god so that he gets strength,” said Mahasthobir, the Buddhist monk.
In the evening, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association secretary general William J. Shija, who came all the way from London, visited the hospital.
“I have come from London to see Jyoti Basu whom I admire a lot. I first met Basu in 2007 when I visited Kolkata for the first time. Then we had a long conversation. I wish and pray to god he gets well soon,” said Shija.
Basu was shifted to the ICCU of the Salt Lake-based private hospital Jan 2, a day after he was admitted to the hospital. The doctors put him on ventilator Jan 6 after he exhibited acute respiratory problems.
Born 1914 in Kolkata, Basu became chief minister in June 1977. He stepped down voluntarily on health grounds in November 2000.