It is a time when the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust should be making headway, but health matters have taken centre stage. The 89-year-old chairman was put in the ICU at Medanta Hospital in Lucknow on June 29 after doctors found he had a urinary tract infection. So, his being there for the July 6 meeting is up in the air.
What happened at the hospital
According to a bulletin from Medanta, Das was in an unresponsive state when he was brought into the ER about 1.30 pm on the 29th. A quick check by the staff confirmed the U.T.I.
He is now in the ICU and in the hands of Dr Dilip and his people. The hospital says a group of specialists are on top of his case and giving him the care he needs.
Why this matters for the Trust
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust was put in place to see the Ram temple project through. As its president, Das is the one you look to for direction and to set the tone.
They have a key session on the books for July 6 to get to the bottom of things after Champat Rai and Anil Mishra put in their papers. There was some trouble over where the temple’s donations went, and people want to see some action and some straight talk from the Trust.
Health update: key points from the bulletin
Here is how the hospital has put it:
– Brought in around 1.30 pm on June 29
– Was not conscious on arrival
– U.T.I. is the diagnosis
– Now in the ICU with Dr Dilip
– Under the eye of the specialists
Uncertainty around the July 6 meeting
Five days out from the meeting, no one can say for sure if he will be in the room, we are told. He has been known to log in online for some sittings of late given his age, but right now they are focused on getting him well.
This isn’t just a run-of-the-mill administrative day. They will be looking at what to do in the wake of the departures of Rai and Mishra and the wider issue of the donation mix-up at the temple.
What comes next
The heads of the Trust have to be both open and steady as they move forward. People will be on the lookout for word from the hospital on how Das is doing and from the Trust on how they plan to handle the 6th.
It is a delicate time for the followers and those who have given to the cause. With the chairman’s health and some governance issues in the mix, the call is for some firm, unambiguous moves in the coming days.
The larger context
Even when he has been on a screen for a meeting, Das has been a force as president of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. In a way, he is the face of continuity for the supporters.
For the moment, the fact that he is in the ICU with a full team of doctors led by Dr Dilip means they are treading carefully. We will have to wait and see what the next word is from the hospital or the Trust.
