New Delhi: High drama prevailed at government-run RML hospital here late on Tuesday night with former union minister E Ahamed's family alleging that they were not allowed to meet him.
"I'm not being allowed to see my father, it's my right. How can I not be allowed?" his son asked reporters outside the hospital.
“This is completely unprofessional, unethical,” Ahamed's daughter Dr Fausiya said.
The 78-year-old veteran MP died around 2.50 am on Wednesday. He was admitted to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital after he collapsed during the president’s speech in Parliament on Tuesday.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi, party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, opposition leader in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, besides other party leaders rushed to the hospital late at night and met Ahamed's family.
"Congress leaders rushed to the RML hospital because E Ahamed's family is not being permitted to meet him. This is complete high-handedness of the government," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told PTI.
He said the government has stopped the blood relatives of the former union minister from meeting him or knowing about his critical state at such a time.
After the Congress leaders' intervention, the relatives were allowed to meet him. It was only after the kin were granted permission to visit him that Ahamed's death was officially announced.
Ahamed's son, daughters and son-in-law, who waited for three hours at the hospital, even had heated arguments with the hospital authorities.
Some Kerala MPs were also at the hospital till late at night.
The Congress leaders said the party will raise the issue in Parliament Wednesday when the union Budget is to be presented.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Indian Union Muslim League leader collapsed and suffered cardiac arrest during the president's address at the joint sitting of Parliament and was rushed to RML hospital.
