'Anand Singh needs to stay in hospital'

Congress legislator Anand Singh is unable to walk and has to remain in the hospital for another couple of days for treatment, his son Siddharth said on Wednesday.

Singh, who represents the Vijayanagar constituency in Ballari, was admitted to the hospital on January 20 after he was allegedly assaulted by fellow party legislator JN Ganesh (Kampli) in a drunken brawl at the Eagleton Resort.

“He has been on bedrest for the past 3 days and is consuming only fluids. Fracture has been ruled out below the right eye and below the chest, fracture has been ruled out for two ribs. Once swelling near the eye reduces, doctors will decide on what to do. He will have to stay in the hospital for 4-5 days,” Siddharth told reporters.

Singh tried to walk on Wednesday morning but needed support. “Walking and sitting are making him feel giddy and nauseous,” Siddharth said. “When he coughs, sneezes or takes a deep breath, he feels discomfort and it pains near the chest,” he added.

Ganesh, who has been booked for attempt to murder, is said to be absconding. Siddharth declined to comment on the police investigation. “The law will take its course.”

Home Minister MB Patil asserted that Ganesh would be arrested soon. “Yes, the police hasn’t arrested him yet, but that doesn’t mean there’s any political pressure. Nobody is bigger than law,” Patil told reporters.

Based on Singh’s complaint, the Ramanagara police have booked Ganesh also under IPC sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation).

Parameshwara slams brawl

Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, who is heading a Congress probe team to look into the drunken brawl episode, ruled that he had not seen anything like this. “I’m in politics for the past 30 years and I’ve not seen things reach such a low level. It shouldn’t have happened. I’m worried that we’re losing values. What will we tell youngsters? Ganesh is a youngster himself,” Parameshwara told reporters.

The party has suspended Ganesh pending an inquiry that will be done by a committee headed by Parameshwara with ministers KJ George and Krishna Byre Gowda as its members.