Afraid of Sasikala, we all lied about Jayalalithaa's health: Tamil Nadu AIADMK minister Dindigul Sreenivaasan

MADURAI: Tamil Nadu Minister of Forests and AIADMK leader Dindigul C Sreenivaasan has claimed that afraid of Sasikala, party leaders lied about Jayalalithaa's health last year so that people believe that she was improving.

No one was allowed to meet the late chief minister. Whoever came, would be briefed by Sasikala's relatives that she was "all right", he said.

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

Sreenivaasan said he was now coming out with the truth pushed by the situation.

The fact was none including himself was allowed to see Jayalalithaa, who was admitted to the Apollo Hospitals in Chennai on September 22, 2016, claimed Srinivasan, who had also made such statements to the media last year.

After prolonged treatment for infection and other complications, Jayalalithaa had died of a heart attack on December 5 last year.

"I seek a huge pardon from you. Please forgive me. We told lies Amma (Jayalalithaa) is eating sambar, chutney, tea etc so that you will believe that she is improving. In fact, nobody saw Amma eating idli or drinking tea or chatting. All are lies," Sreenivaasan said.

Only VK Sasikala & her family had access to see Amma rest no one was allowed: Dindigul Sreenivasan, TN Minister on Jayalalithaa's death pic.twitter.com/RaTkcN3k8B

— ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2017

Similarly, news about several leaders meeting Jayalalithaa in the hospital and their version that she was improving was also false, he claimed.

"We were afraid of Sasikala at that time and lied about Jayalalithaa's health condition," he claimed.

"It is very common that sisters who fight inside the house will appear to be friendly outside. We did not want the secret of the party to get leaked and that is why we lied," he said.

Referring to statements by people loyal to sidelined party leader TTV 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.

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

"We did that because Sasiskala claimed she was with Jayalalithaa and took care of her. But people thought otherwise. They were angry and asked, why did you hand over 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.

Chief Minister Edapaddi K Palaniswami has recently announced a commission of inquiry would probe the death. Present deputy chief minister and former rebel leader O Panneerselvam had pressed for a probe into the death of Jayalalithaa saying there were doubts in the minds of people. As a response to Sreenivaasan's statement, DMK working president M K Stalin commented that the probe has still not begun.