Among the most high-profile cases in India’s devastating second wave of coronavirus infections is the former prime minister Manmohan Singh, who was admitted to hospital this week after testing positive despite being recently vaccinated against Covid-19.
Singh, 88, who developed a fever on Sunday and tested positive a day later, is an economist, academic and member of the Congress party who led the country for a decade between 2004 and 2014 and was the first Sikh to hold the office.
Describing his condition as “stable”, the health minister, Harsh Vardhan, tweeted: “Best possible care is being provided to him. We all pray for his quick recovery.”
Prior to his hospitalisation Singh had written to the current Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, to suggest changes to the country’s vaccination priority to allow frontline health workers under the age of 45 to be inoculated.
The revelation of Singh’s illness prompted messages of support from prominent political figures.
“Wishing our former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh ji good health and a speedy recovery,” tweeted Modi, who succeeded Singh.
The Congress party’s president, Sonia Gandhi, said in a statement: “I am deeply concerned to learn that Dr Manmohan Singh is unwell and has been hospitalised. On behalf of all of us in the Congress party I send my good wishes to him for a speedy and complete recovery.”
Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi tweeted: “India needs your guidance and advice in this difficult time.”
Pakistan’s prime minister, Imran Khan, who recently recovered from coronavirus, also sent a message of support on Twitter. “Wishing ex Indian PM Manmohan Singh a speedy recovery from Covid 19,” he wrote.
