A delegation of AIADMK MPs owing allegiance to rebel leader O. Panneerselvam on Tuesday called on President Pranab Mukherjee and sought a probe into the circumstances surrounding the death of late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
The 12 MPs delegation, led by Rajya Sabha member V. Maithreyan, submitted a memorandum in this regard to the President at the Rashtrapathi Bhavan here.
In the memorandum, they sought steps for instituting a probe, which can be a judicial inquiry or a CBI probe. It can be decided by the President, Dr. Maithreyan told reporters after meeting Mr. Mukherjee.
“Ever since Jayalalithaa passed away, there has been doubts about it among party cadres and general public. We have requested the President to look into the issue and order a central government probe into her death to reveal the truth,” he said.
Dr. Maithreyan questioned need to admit the former Mhief Minister in hospital on September 22 just for “fever and dehydration,” when her Poes Garden residence itself had a “mini hospital and ICU setup”.
Dr. Maithreyan, who was among the first to support Mr. Panneerselvam after the latter revolted against the party leadership earlier this month, said in the 75-day long medical treatment given to Jayalalithaa “there are many suspicions and goof-ups.”
“I consider removal of such suspicions will be a tribute to Amma [Jayalalithaa],” he said.
Dr. Maithreyan, who is an Oncologist, said that during Jayalalithaa’s long medication at Apollo Hospitals none was allowed to visit her.
“After taking necessary precautions, one or two members can be allowed. Neither Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley nor OPS was allowed to see Amma,” he said.
They wanted to know who authorised the hospital’s decision to go in for “cessation of treatment,” to allow natural cessation of life after Jayalalithaa suffered a cardiac arrest on December 5.
Under normal circumstances a permission was obtained from blood relatives to stop medical treatment, he said.
Dr. Maitreyan said the State government was not being “qualified” to probe Jayalalithaa’s death.
“Chief Minister Edappadi is not talking about the issue and is ignorant,” Dr. Maitreyan alleged.
He also promised to take up the issue in the coming session of Parliament.
To a question on why the issue was not raised soon after Jayalalitha’s death, Dr. Maitreyan said, “If we had raised it on the day of funeral, TN would have faced a lot of violence.”
While being the caretaker Chief Minister, Mr. Panneerselvam had said a probe would be ordered into the circumstances leading to the death of Jayalalithaa.
