Pankaja Munde calls on Bhujbal

Mumbai, Sep 21 (PTI) Maharashtra Rural DevelopmentMinister Pankaja Munde today called on beleaguered NCP leaderChhagan Bhujbal, who is currently recuperating at state-run JJ hospital following an illness. "(Late BJP leader) Gopinath Munde had high regards forand had time and again considered Chhagan Bhujbal as anefficient leader as far as the cause of OBCs is concerned.Factoring in the close relations between both the families,Pankaja met him at J J hospital," an aide of Munde said. Bhujbal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate inMarch in an alleged money laundering case. He has been lodgedin the Arthur Road Jail since then. The former Deputy Chief Minister was admitted in theMedical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) of the hospital onSeptember 17, after he complained of weakness and headache,and was found to have fever when prison doctors examined him. An NCP leader said that since the last two days, Bhujbalhas been shifted to the hospital’s general ward and isundergoing treatment there. Munde’s aide further said that the minister spent aroundhalf-an-hour interacting with Bhujbal. "Pankaja also met hospital officials to enquire abouthis treatment," he said. PTI MM GKBSARYS