Mahajan: Signs of consciousness but still very critical

Mumbai, Apr 23 (UNI) BJP General Secretary Pramod Mahajan's life hung by a slender thread today after three bullets fired by his younger brother shattered his liver, pancreas and intestine yesterday.

Rahul Mahajan said his father exhibited signs of ''consciousness'' when he tried to respond through gestures when he asked him how he was feeling. ''Glint in papa's eyes and slight movement of fingers have kindled hopes in us,'' Rahul said.

A Hinduja hospital spokesman said the condition of the 56-year-old leader had improved slightly but still remained very critical, 24 hours after he was operated upon for his grievous injuries.

''There are signs of consciousness but (these) cannot be termed as beginning of stability. He is still on life support system'' in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), a medical bulletin issued this morning said.''His kidneys are functioning but poorly.'' Bleeding from liver has been substantially controlled.

All three bullets are still embedded in his body.

A local court remanded his younger brother, Pravin, to police custody till April 29 on charges of murderous assault.

Pravin, who had surrendered to Worli police immediately after pumping three bullets into Mahajan, was produced before Bhoiwada Metropolitan court.

Pravin was taken back to the Worli police station. He has been booked u/s 307 (attempt to murder) and section 450 (criminal trespass) of the IPC. He is also being charged under 3 and 30 of the Arms Act which deals with motive to shoot.

Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and former Prime Atal Bihari Vajpayee were among scores of VIPs who visited Hinduja hospital here to inquire about the health of Mr Mahajan.

As Mr Shekhawat and Mr Vajpayee walked into the hospital this afternoon, Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh along with L K Advani's daughter Pratibha were seen coming out.

BJP president Rajnath Singh and vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who have been camping in the city since last evening, were also inside the hospital when Mr Shekhawat accompanied by Mr Vajapyee arrived at the hospital.

Earlier, former External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, after visiting the ICU of the hospital where Mahajan is under constant observation after his four-hour surgery at around noon yesterday, told media persons that Mahajan has showed '' slight improvement but there are still complications.'' The Tamil Nadu Unit of the BJP performed a ''yagna'' in Chennai for the speedy recovery of Mr Mahajan.

Eds: pick up suitably from earlier series.

UNI Team-RP PM1657