Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday made a phone call to NCP stalwart Sharad Pawar to enquire about his health and advised him to take a rest, as his daughter Supriya Sule was ready to take care of the country.
While speaking to the media, Pawar's close aide Vitthal Maniyar said that PM Modi spoke to Pawar with great affection. "This morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called to enquire about Saheb's health. He spoke to Saheb with great affection and respect and said, Saheb, please take complete rest. Supriya is ready now. Supriya and we will take care of the country. You rest; this is my request."
Pawar, who was discharged from Pune's Ruby Hall Clinic, told the PM in response that he was resting. Pawar asked the PM to keep working. Thanking the PM for enquiring about his health, Pawar said to him, "I am resting, and when all of you are there, I have no worries about the country. You keep working.' Saheb thanked him for enquiring about his health."
However, no such details were shared by either PM Modi or the NCP veteran. Pawar, 85, was discharged as he was stable and doing well. Later in the day, he travelled to his residence in Mumbai and was later admitted to Breach Candy Hospital, Sule said in a social media post.
Dr Purvez K Grant, chief cardiologist, chairman and managing trustee of Ruby Hall Clinic, had said that Pawar had been admitted for a general check-up and medical observation following complaints of pleuritic pain. Pleuritic pain refers to chest pain that typically worsens while breathing, coughing or sneezing.
Amid buzz over Sunetra Pawar-led NCP's rebellious stance, the exchange between the two leaders has again fuelled media speculation regarding political equations in Maharashtra, though close aides maintain the interaction was purely a courtesy call regarding Pawar's health.