Amit Shah Dismisses Rumours Surrounding His Health, Says He is Not Suffering from Any Disease

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday dismissed recent allegations of his ill-health. The veteran BJP leader took to Twitter to clarify those were just rumours and that as the country's home minister he has been working as the country grapples with the coronavirus pandemic.

“I am completely healthy and not suffering from any disease," Shah said in a tweet in Hindi.

Several social media users have recently speculated about Shah's health.

"Over the last few days, rumours have been spread through social media about my health," said Shah in his message. "Some users went so far as to ask for wishes after tweeting about my death."

Shah said since the country is currently busy fighting a public health crisis like the coronavirus, he initially did not take cognizance of such rumours since he has been busy working till late at night.

Shah further said when he found out about the rumours, he initially refused to clarify but was forced to clear the air when party workers and well-wishers, over the last two days, inquired about his health.

"This is why I want to clarify today: I am completely healthy and not suffering from any disease," said Shah.

The senior BJP leader expressed gratitude towards his well-wishers and the party who had inquired about his health.

Meanwhile, four persons were detained by Ahmedabad police on Saturday for allegedly spreading misinformation about Shah's health by creating a fake Twitter account in his name.

Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ajay Tomar said a screenshot of a fake Twitter account in Shah's name with his photo, claiming he was suffering from a serious ailment, had gone viral on social media platforms. The suspects were detained from Ahmedabad and Bhavnagar and were being questioned.

A case has been registered under sections 66(c) (punishment for identity theft) and 66(d) (cheating by personation using computer resource) of the Information Technology Act, he said.

BJP leaders condemn rumours

Minutes after the tweet, party president JP Nadda said that making "inhuman" comments about Shah's health is "extremely condemnable".

"Spreading such misleading remarks about anyone's health shows the mindset of people doing so. I strongly condemn it and pray to God to grant them good sense," Nadda said in a tweet.

BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya said spreading such rumours could be a "political ploy" of those who are rattled by Shah's working style and decisions.

Party spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain claimed that people behind them are "enemies of the nation".

Hussain tweeted, "It's really shameful how a handful of people are spreading rumours about the health of India's Home Minister Amit Shah. These people are enemies of the nation who dislike leaders devoted to the motherland."

Senior party leader and Union minister Prakash Javadekar said the comments about Shah's health shows the "distorted mindset" of people making them.

Another Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "Amit Shah Ji you are safe and sound and will remain so because you have to serve Maa Bharati with courage and conviction for a long time."

(With inputs from PTI)