M K Stalin, leader of the Opposition who is also the working president of the DMK demanded a CBI probe into the death of J Jayalalithaa, the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. In a statement released to the media at Chennai on Sunday, Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister-in-waiting, said the Centre should order a probe to unravel the mystery behind the death of Jayalalithaa. “Union Health Minister JP Nadda had said during those days that the Centre was keeping a watch over the health of Jayalalithaa,” said Stalin.
Stalin’s demand was in response to the disclosure made by Minister for Forest Dindigul C Srinivasan that all Ministers in Tamil Nadu lied to the people about the status of Jayalalithaa’s health since the day she was admitted to a corporate hospital in Chennai.
“We are afraid of Amma’s close aide VK Sasikala who did not allow anyone to call on the ailing Chief Minister,” Srinivasan had told on late Friday while addressing a public meeting at Madurai in connection with the birth anniversary of CN Annadurai, former Chief Minister and DMK’s founder president.
Srinivasan said the Ministers were forced to tell the people that they saw Jayalalithaa eating idli and sambar and having tea. “The truth was that none of the Ministers or those dignitaries who had called on the hospital to enquire about Amma’s health were allowed anywhere near her ward. Only Sasikala and her family members were allowed to meet Jayalalithaa,” Srinivasan had told on Friday.
But OS Manian, Minister for Textiles, known for his close connections with the Sasikala family, said he does not have any doubts over the death of the former Chief Minister. “What Srinivasan said was his personal opinion. I do not have any doubts over Amma’s death,” said Manian while speaking to journalists at Chennai.
Deepa Madhavan Patrick, niece of late Jayalalithaa too joined the raging controversy by making it known on Sunday that she would approach the court with the plea to bring out the truth behind the death of her aunt. Deepa, who had launched MAD Party (MGR Amma Deepa Party) has been maintaining silence following the merger of the Panneerselvam and Palaniswami faction of the AIADMK.
Reacting to Stalin’s demand for a CBI probe into the death of Jayalalithaa, Srinivasan, the man behind the latest controversy said his party and Government would welcome such a probe.
Chief Minister Palaniswamy had ordered a probe into the death of the former Chief Minister by a commission headed by a retired High Court judge. The commission of enquiry is yet to be constituted.