Amit Shah Skips Karnataka Events After Food Poisoning, 'Perfect Now', Says Pralhad Joshi

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah skipped two scheduled engagements in Karnataka on Saturday after suffering from food poisoning, fellow Union Minister and senior BJP leader Pralhad Joshi said. Mr Shah had arrived in Hubballi late on Friday and stayed back at his hotel on medical advice, a senior colleague later said he was well.

Mr Shah had been due to inaugurate the new academic building of the KLE Jagadguru Gangadhar Mahaswamigalu Moorusavirmath Medical College and the 1,200-bed KLE Hospital and Medical Research Centre at Gabbur in Hubballi. He did not attend the programme.

KLE Society chairman and former Rajya Sabha MP Prabhakar Kore said the Home Minister had remained at his hotel after developing health issues, news agency PTI reported.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Joshi said Mr Shah had suffered food poisoning and was "perfect" now. "Naturally, due to vomiting from food poisoning, he had some weakness," he said.

In Mr Shah's absence, the KLE campuses were inaugurated by Mr Joshi, Karnataka Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil, former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, Belagavi MP Jagadish Shettar and Sri Gurusiddha Rajayogindra Swami of Shri Jagadguru Moorusavirmath.

The Home Minister's second scheduled stop, in Belagavi district, was also cancelled. He had been due to inaugurate the new headquarters building of the Sri Beereshwara Cooperative Credit Society at Examba in Chikkodi taluk. Addressing the gathering at Examba, Mr Joshi said: "Amit Shah should have come here. He suffered ill health due to food poisoning."

The KLE Society is among north Karnataka's larger educational and healthcare organisations, running schools, colleges and hospitals across the region. The 1,200-bed hospital and research centre in Hubballi is one of its bigger recent projects, and the new medical college building is part of an expansion of its teaching facilities. Inaugurations of this kind are routine engagements for senior ministers, who are often invited to preside over state-level institution and infrastructure launches.

Food poisoning is commonly caused by eating or drinking food or water contaminated by bacteria, viruses or their toxins. Symptoms usually include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhoea, and most cases settle within a few days with rest and fluids. Medical advice is generally sought when symptoms are severe or persistent, or when they are accompanied by signs of dehydration, high fever or blood in stools. Public health guidance in India advises prompt medical attention for those at higher risk, including young children, the elderly and people with existing illnesses.

No further details of Mr Shah's treatment or a revised schedule for his Karnataka engagements were made public, and officials did not indicate whether the cancelled programmes would be held at a later date.

The events he was to attend went ahead as planned with the other dignitaries present.