Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge experienced a health scare while addressing a public rally in Jasrota, Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district on Sunday. Kharge, who felt dizzy during his speech, was immediately attended to by a team of doctors, and his condition is now stable, according to party leaders. Kharge was in Jasrota to pay tribute to a head constable who had been killed in an ongoing operation against terrorists in Kathua. Two other police personnel were injured in the incident, while one terrorist was reported dead.
As Kharge addressed the gathering, he felt uneasy and had to be assisted into a chair by his colleagues, Congress General Secretary Gulam Ahmed Mir informed news agency PTI. “The Congress president is stable,” Mir said, offering reassurance about Kharge’s health.
#WATCH | Jammu and Kashmi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge became unwell while addressing a public gathering in Kathua. pic.twitter.com/OXOPFmiyUB
— ANI (@ANI) September 29, 2024
Despite his discomfort, Kharge completed his speech, vowing to continue fighting for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. “I am 83 years old, I am not going to die so early. I will stay alive till PM Modi is removed from power. I will listen to you and I will continue to fight for you,” Kharge declared during his address.
VIDEO | Jammu and Kashmir elections 2024: “…I am 83-year-old, but I am not going to die till PM Modi is removed (from power),” said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) at a public gathering in Jammu and Kashmir’s Jasrota.#JammuKashmirElections2024
(Source: Third… pic.twitter.com/sGdox0xTbx
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 29, 2024
Kharge had flown to Jasrota to rally support for his party’s candidates in the upcoming assembly elections. He was also scheduled to address another public event in Ramnagar, located in Udhampur district. However, his participation in the second rally remains uncertain. “Kharge felt dizzy and was taken to a room where doctors were called for a check-up. They will advise whether he can attend the second rally or not,” Jammu and Kashmir Congress Vice President Ravindra Sharma told PTI.
Congress leader Thakur Balbir Singh provided further insight into the situation, telling ANI, “He felt suffocated due to the extreme heat and still he completed his speech. He will take some rest and then leave for another programme in Ramnagar.”
#WATCH | J&K: Congress leader Thakur Balbir Singh says, “He (Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge) felt suffocated due to the extreme heat and still he completed his speech… He will take some rest and then leave for another programme in Ramnagar…” https://t.co/dWzEVfQiV0 pic.twitter.com/ULCGWlRnwS
— ANI (@ANI) September 29, 2024
Mallikarjun Kharge’s Son Priyank Says He Experienced Low Blood Pressure
Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge, who is the son of Mallikarjun Kharge, also shared an update on X, saying, “Congress President Sri @kharge felt slightly unwell while addressing a public meeting in Jasrota, Jammu & Kashmir. He has been checked upon by his medical team and apart from slightly low blood pressure, he is doing well.
Extremely grateful for everyone’s concern.”
Congress President Sri @kharge felt slightly unwell while addressing a public meeting in Jasrota, Jammu & Kashmir.
He has been checked upon by his medical team and apart from slightly low blood pressure, he is doing well.
Extremely grateful for everyone’s concern.His…
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) September 29, 2024
“His resolve, along with people’s good wishes, keeps him going strong,” he added.
This incident comes after Mallikarjun Kharge was advised rest and had to skip his Haryana election rallies. He was scheduled to address two election rallies in Ambala city and in Gharaunda of Karnal district on September 23.
“The Congress president is unable to travel today because he has been advised rest. Both rallies in Haryana (which Kharge was to address) will be addressed by state leaders,” a party leader said, as per PTI.
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