Sonia Gandhi's surgery successful

New Delhi, Aug 5 (ANI): Congress President Sonia Gandhi was recovering in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital in the United States on Friday after undergoing successful surgery for an undisclosed ailment.

In a statement, the party today said that 64-year-old Gandhi underwent a surgery on August 4 and the surgeon has indicated that the surgery has been successful.

The statement did not indicate where the surgery was performed, but said that the Congress president's son Rahul Gandhi, daughter Priyanka and son-in-law Robert Vadra were with her.

The statement also said that, "As this is a personal matter that pertains to her health and medical treatment, her family requests that her privacy be respected."

On Thursday, Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari said: ""Sonia Gandhi is travelling on the advice of a doctor to attend to a medical condition. I think there is a certain amount of circumspection, a certain amount of discretion, a certain amount of sensitivity, which needs to be exercised. As and when if there is any update, we would keep you informed".

Refusing to give further details, Tiwari said public personalities are entitled to a certain amount of privacy as far as their medical condition is concerned and media should bear that sensitivity in mind.

"Even public persons are entitled to a certain amount of privacy and especially when it concerns a medical condition, there is a need to be sensitive about it, as and when there is an update, which needs to be shared with you, we would keep you informed," added Tiwari.

A core group has been constituted in her absence to look after her functions. t comprises Defence Minister A K Antony, her political advisor Ahmed Patel, her son and party General Secretary Rahul Gandhi and party spokesperson Janardhan Dwivedi. (ANI)