DMK working president M.K. Stalin on Tuesday said that Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami may have sought Z-category security to escape from dengue.
Addressing mediapersons after visiting the Institute of Child Health and Hospital in Egmore, he noted that 56 children had been admitted there for various ailments, and 26 of them were suffering from dengue fever. “Five of the 39 pregnant women also have dengue fever,” he said.
Alleging that the prevailing situation was caused by the State government’s failure to take precautionary measures, Mr. Stalin accused the Central team that visited Tamil Nadu of having dismissed dengue as if it were a non-issue. “What is still worse is the claim of the State government that so far, only 40 people have died of dengue. The government has directed private hospitals not to reveal the details about dengue patients and had even threatened to cancel their recognition,” he alleged.
With regard to the ₹256 crore that the State government has sought from the Centre to combat dengue, Mr. Stalin said it had sought the funds only to fill its own pockets.
To a query on reports that Nilavembu Kashayam could cause infertility, Mr. Stalin said, “It is for Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan to explain.”
