No one was allowed to see Jayalalithaa in hospital, we lied about her condition, claims Tamil Nadu minister

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu's forest minister Dindigul C Sreenivasan has made a stunning claim that all AIADMK ministers spun a web of lies around former chief minister J Jayalalithaa's health when she was in hospital last year.

Jayalalithaa was declared dead on December 5 last year after an uncertainty-filled 75 days in Apollo Hospitals. She was hospitalised on September 22, after she collapsed due to respiratory distress at her Poes Garden residence.

"The claims made by us that she ate idlis in hospital were a total lie, because none of the ministers were allowed to meet her in the hospital and none of us knew the reality," Sreenivasan said addressing a public meeting on Friday night.

The AIADMK minister apologised for lying on Jayalalithaa's health condition.

"There were several leaders who visited the hospital, but all of them were allowed only up to the first floor. Beyond that no one was allowed. All were made to sit on chairs or on the floor and after a chat left. Nobody saw Amma," claimed Sreenivasan.

Governor C Vidyasagar Rao and many other dignitaries too were stopped much before her room, he said adding, "We all lied then so that the party's secret did not get leaked."

A week ago, the minister had accused Sasikala and her family of maintaining secrecy about Jayalalithaa's treatment in hospital.<br/>+
At a meeting to commemorate MGR centenary, Sreenivasan accused the Sasikala family being responsible for the death of Jayalalithaa. "The family did not allow anybody near Amma during her hospitalisation. They alone know how Amma died and they are responsible," said Sreenivasan.

Ironically, the same minister had in March criticised O Panneerselvam and his supporters for seeking a probe into the death of Jayalalithaa.

Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has announced to set up an inquiry commission headed by a retired judge of Madras high court to probe+ into the circumstances leading to the death of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa.