Afraid of Sasikala, we lied about Jayalalithaa's health, says TN minister

Chennai: Senior Tamil Nadu minister and AIADMK leader Dindigul Sreenivasan on Saturday claimed that afraid of Sasikala, party leaders lied about Jayalalithaa's health last year so that people believe that she was improving.

"Nobody was allowed to see Amma. Only VK Sasikala and her family had access to see her," he said.

Jayalalithaa was admitted to the Apollo Hospital in Chennai on September 22, 2016.

Also read: 'Puratchi Thalaivi' Jayalalithaa passes away

He claimed that whoever visited Jayalalithaa was only allowed to see Pratap Reddy and Sasikala.

Addressing a public meeting in Madurai late last night, he sought the pardon of AIADMK cadres and the public for lying about Jayalalithaa's health.

“Forgive me my party worker but all of us ministers lied before you, when we said Amma is having food and she is alright,” he said.

The charismatic six-time Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, who ruled the political arena for decades on end had died at the Apollo Hospital in Chennai on September 22, 2016.

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Her death had plunged Tamil Nadu and her party, the AIADMK, into a political crisis.

Referring to statements by people loyal to sidelined party leader T T V Dhinakaran that they had evidence to refute doubts over the treatment given to Jayalalithaa, he dared them to release these and face the inquiry commission to let the people know the truth.

Srinivasan said it was they who made Sasikala as interim general secretary after Jayalalithaa's demise.

"We did that because Sasikala claimed she was with Jayalalithaa and took care of her. But people thought otherwise. They were angry and asked why did you handover the party to the Sasikala clan," he said.

He maintained that Sasikala was selected only due to the compulsion of the circumstances.

A recent general council meeting of the party had annulled the appointment of Sasikala as interim general secretary and held as invalid all her decisions.

(With inputs from PTI)