Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Apr 2: Ravi Naik, former chief minister and Ponda MLA suffered a mild stroke on Thursday morning April 1 and was rushed to a Dona Paula-based hospital, the source reported. Naik was given immediate treatment and his condition improved significantly, it said. Naik is likely to be kept for treatment and observation until Saturday, sources revealed. "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.

However, soon after the news broke out, Naik's family gave out a statement that the reports to be false and that Naik had gone for some routine medical tests. "I have visited Manipal Hospital for a routine check-up and reports about my health are being misreported. My well-wishers are requested not to worry and panic by fake news being spread by anti-social elements," Naik said in a statement.

Digambar Kamat, leader of the opposition said that immediately after getting the news, he had spoken to Naik. BJP organizational secretary Satish Dhond visited Naik at the hospital. Chief minister Pramod Sawant also called up the doctors to check on Naik's health.