Jaitley released from hospital but can't attend G20 meet

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was on Wednesday discharged from a hospital where he had undergone an elective laparoscopic procedure for diabetes management last week.

Later, Jaitley, 61, attended a meeting of the Union Cabinet, which was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Jaitley was admitted to a private hospital in New Delhi on September 1 for surgery to manage a long-standing diabetic condition, and had originally been expected to leave after a few days, said an earlier report by Reuters.

The former lawyer is one of the most powerful figures in the nationalist government formed in May by Modi, holding responsibility for both finance and defence.

"The minister is partly working from the hospital and checking official files," said finance ministry spokesman DS Malik.

"He may at least take couple of days before coming to the office," said Malik, adding that a final decision on when Jaitley can return to his office would be taken by his doctors.

Jaitley has made no secret of his diabetes and, according to media reports, underwent a minimally-invasive gastric bypass procedure that is intended to prevent weight gain that is often suffered by people with the condition.

Some commentators have questioned whether Jaitley's health is strong enough to shoulder the burden of running two big ministries.

Delivering his maiden budget in July, he had to take a break half-way through and gave the second part of his address seated.

In a government short of Cabinet bench strength, Jaitley's health over the next few months will be critical to the success of economic reforms, such as a proposed nationwide Goods and Services Tax.

The GST would unify India's 29 states into a common market for the first time, cutting red tape while at the same time broadening the government's tax base.

Economists estimate it could add 2 percentage points to India's economy.

Jaitley will be represented at the September 20-21 meeting of G20 finance ministers in Cairns, Australia, by Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who also holds the post of deputy finance minister.

The Group of 20 is the world's main intergovernmental policy forum, bringing together developed and emerging nations that between them account for nine-tenths of global economic output.

Text: PTI and Reuters

Image: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley; Photograph: Kind courtesy, PIB