Doctors caution Karunanidhi against going on fast

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, who underwent a spinal cord surgery, should not go ahead with his decision to undertake a fast on health grounds, doctors said on Tuesday.

A medical bulletin on Karunanidhi's health said that his condition was improving but he needed complete rest for some more days. "The decision to launch a fast is a sensitive issue considering his health at present. His political associates should prevail on him to take a good decision considering his health. That alone can be a medicine for him," it said.

Two of Karunanidhi's five stitches were removed on Monday and the decision to remove the rest would be taken on Wednesday after a review by Dr A Jaiswal, who performed the surgery.

A decision on discharging him from Sri Ramachandra Medical College Hospital, where he was undergoing treatment, would be taken only after that, the bulletin said.

arunanidhi announced his intention to undertake an indefinite fast on February 22 to break the impasse between the advocates and the police, following clashes in the Madras High Court.

After this, Karunanidhi was flooded with phone calls from his well wishers, with appeals to reconsider his decision due to his health condition. He underwent a minimal invasive surgery to relieve pain on his spinal cord on February 11.