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No visitors for the PM

Three days after his knee surgery, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is recovering very well, his spokesperson Ashok Tandon told the media on Thursday afternoon. Doctors are keeping him under strict supervision -- so much so that no visitors, not even his relatives -- are allowed access to the PM.

According to Tandon, members of the PMO have also not met the PM. "I last saw him on the evening of the surgery," he said at Sahyadri, the Maharashtra state guest house.

The make-shift PMO, meanwhile, has received several phone calls from many political bigwigs. Former prime minister I K Gujral, Lok Sabha Speaker G M C Balayogi, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Najma Heptullah, Gujarat Governor S S Bhandari, BJP vice-president M L Khurana, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ram Prakash Gupta, and U P BJP president Kalraj Mishra have inquired about the PM's health over the phone, but have been dissuaded from contacting him personally.

Union Minister Arun Jaitley and BJP philosopher Nanaji Deshmukh both visited the Breach Candy hospital, but did not go to the seventh floor where the PM is admitted.

The ministry of external affairs is expected to send the list of phone messages from foreign dignitaries by Thursday evening.

Tandon clarified that the PMO had no confirmation on President K R Narayanan's visit to the hospital. The President is scheduled to inaugurate the World Bhojpuri Conference in Mumbai.

Two personal physicians -- Dr Manchanda and Dr Pande -- who accompanied the PM are scheduled to return to Delhi on Thursday. While Dr Anoop Mishra and Dr Ranadeep Guleria -- also personal physicians -- will stay in Mumbai till the PM returns to the capital. Dr Mishra and Dr Guleria had accompanied the PM on his visit to the USA. It is mandatory for both the President and PM to be examined by their personal physician twice every day.

Principal Secretary to the PM Brajesh Mishra, who arrived in Mumbai with the PM on Monday, is returning to Delhi on Friday.

Tandon further stated that in response to the PM's concern on the skinning of a tiger in Andhra Pradesh, Additional Inspector General (Wildlife) S C Sharma has sent a report to the temporary PMO in Mumbai. "The report is not very bulky and the PM is yet to see it," added Tandon. The PMO has sought more details about the incident. A copy of the report will be shown to the PM some time on Thursday.

The PM has also been informed about the flood situation in West Bengal. Accordingly, IPCL has been asked to divert their entire current production of polythene to the flood-affected parts of the state.

The PM is reading newspapers every morning. "I don't know what his views on the coverage of his surgery is so far," said Tandon. The scores of bouquets received by the PM have been kept at the special reception area at the hospital. Only select bouquets from governors and CMs are being sent to the seventh floor. None are allowed in his room though.

The PM's surgery: The full coverage

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