Pranab Mukherjee’s condition has worsened: says hospital, daughter says “May God do whatever is best for him”

Former President Pranab Mukherjee’s condition has worsened, the Army Hospital in Delhi where he is admitted, has said in a bulletin. The 84-year-old underwent an emergency surgery for a brain clot on August 10, and has also tested positive for COVID-19.

“The former President who underwent lifesaving emergency surgery for brain clot on 10 August 2020 has not shown any improvement and his health status has worsened. He remains on ventilatory support”, the hospital said in a statement on Tuesday.

Mukherjee’s daughter, Congress leader Sharmistha Mukherjee took to Twitter on Wednesday to recall that last year August 8 was one of the happiest days for her when the former President received the Bharat Ratna. Sharmistha Mukherjee wrote: “Last year August 8 was one of the happiest day for me as my dad received Bharat Ratna. Exactly a year later, on August 10, he fell critically ill. May God do whatever is best for him and give me strength to accept both joys and sorrows of life with equanimity. I sincerely thank all for their concerns.”

On Monday, Pranab Mukherjee had mentioned in his Twitter account that he had tested positive for COVID-19. He urged those who had come in contact with him for the past few days to isolate themselves and get tested for COVID-19.

A 72-hour jayna is being organised in Mukherjee’s ancestral house in Bengal’s Birbhum district where family members and neighbours have been praying for his recovery.