Health scare puts Ravi Naik in hospital

PANAJI: Former chief minister and Ponda MLA Ravi Naik was rushed to a Dona Paula-based hospital on Thursday morning after he suffered a mild stroke, sources said. Naik was treated and his situation has improved significantly, they added.
According to sources, Naik is likely to be kept for treatment and observation till Saturday.
“Doctors said that it is a cerebral vascular accident. There was a small bleed in the brain,” said a source.
Though Naik was rushed to the hospital with slurred speech and difficulty in walking, after treatment, his health parameters improved.
Immediately after the news broke out, Naik’s family put out a statement that the reports were false and that the Congress MLA had only gone for some routine medical tests.
“I have visited Manipal Hospital for routine check up and reports about my health are being misreported. My well-wishers are requested not worry and panic by fake news being spread by anti-social elements,” Naik said in a statement.
Opposition leader Digambar Kamat said he had spoken to Naik immediately after getting the news. “He said that some tests are being done. It may be spondylitis or something,” said Kamat.
Family sources said that BJP organisational secretary Satish Dhond visited Naik at the hospital while chief minister Pramod Sawant also called the doctors for an update about Naik’s health.