Arun Jaitley remains critical, top BJP leaders rush to AIIMS

New Delhi, Aug 17: Former finance minister Arun Jaitley, who was admitted to AIIMS on August 9, continuous to be in critical condition.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar visited AIIMS on Friday to enquire about the health condition of former finance minister Arun Jaitley, who is stated to be "critical".

On Friday, President Ramnath Kovind visited the hospital around noon, while Shah and Adityanath visited AIIMS around 11.15 pm.

Jaitley, 66, was admitted to the AIIMS Intensive Care Unit last week after he complained of breathlessness and restlessness. A multidisciplinary team of doctors is supervising his treatment at the cardio-neuro centre, news agency Press Trust of India reported.

AIIMS has not issued any bulletin on Jaitley's health since the day he was admitted.

Jaitley had been an important part in Narendra Modi's Cabinet during his first tenure as prime minister. He held the finance and defence portfolios, and often acted as the chief troubleshooter of the government.

Jaitley did not contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections presumably because of his ill-health.