The chief minister of the north Indian state of Punjab was reportedly hospitalized on Tuesday, days after he drank from a ‘holy river’ as part of a statewide river cleaning campaign, local media reported.
In a viral video posted on July 17, Bhagwant Mann was seen scooping and drinking a glass of water from Kali Bein, a holy river in Sultanpur Lodhi, during the launch event of a campaign to clean rivers and drains across the state.
Two days later, he was airlifted from his official residence in Chandigarh to a hospital in neighboring state Delhi where he was admitted after complaining of a severe stomachache, reported The Indian Express, citing sources familiar with the matter.
His office has, however, denied the chief minister fell ill and said Mann went to the hospital for a routine checkup, according to The Independent.
The Punjab chief minister drank the water, which is usually polluted with sewage waste from neighbouring towns and villages, without hesitation, reported NDTV.
The event, where he was offered to drink the water by Renowned environmentalist and Rajya Sabha MP Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal, was held to mark the 22nd anniversary of the cleaning of the Kali Bein river as Mann aimed to promote such efforts.
“At 22nd anniversary function of cleaning of holy Kali Bein, CM@BhagwantMann announced statewide campaign to clean all rivers & drains in the state. CM said that while there is no dearth of funds for this noble cause, he called upon people to support it & make it a mass movement,” Punjab government tweeted after the event.
The post showed pictures of Mann drinking from the river water.
Also, his political organization -- Aam Aadmi Party -- posted a video on Twitter showing him doing the same.
The leader, however, was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday, according to NDTV.
