Sidelined AIADMK leader T T V Dhinakaran on Monday asserted that he was ready to submit before any probe agency, including the CBI, a video shot by his aunt V.K. Sasikala of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, when she was in hospital last year.
Mr. Dhinakaran said the video was not released so far since Jayalalithaa was in a “nightie”.
His remarks came a day after the Opposition parties, led by the DMK, called for a CBI probe into the treatment and death of Jayalalithaa, citing a Minister’s recent remarks that AIADMK leaders “lied” about her health during her hospitalisation.
“Amma [Jayalalithaa] had lost a lot of weight... it was a video shot by my aunt [Sasikala] herself. You all know none would have seen Amma in a nightie, not any functionary. Even when late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited Amma following an accident in 1989, she was fully attired, she always maintained that dignity,” Mr. Dhinakaran said.
Video of Jayalalithaa attired in ‘nightie’
The video of Jayalalithaa, attired in a “loose nightie” was shot by Ms. Sasikala after the former was shifted from the ICU at Apollo Hospitals to a room, he told reporters here.
According to Mr. Dhinakaran, when the opposition had earlier raised doubts over Jayalalithaa’s treatment and death, Sasikala had herself suggested that “we ourselves should seek a judicial probe” into the matter.
“What she suggested was that we ourselves could seek a judicial probe where we can submit that video. If that video is released by us now, there would be a debate on its authenticity.
“So, we are ready to submit it at an appropriate forum, whether CBI or even Interpol. We have nothing to fear,” he said.
Setting up inquiry of commission
Over Chief Minister K Palaniswami ordering setting up of an inquiry commission, headed by a retired high court judge, to probe Jayalalithaa’s death, Mr. Dhinakaran said it was only an attempt to “convince” his now deputy O Panneerselvam, who had earlier raised doubts over the matter.
Mr. Panneerselvam had earlier demanded a probe into Jayalalithaa’s death.
Mr. Dhinakaran said any commission probing the matter should be headed by a “senior sitting judge and not a retired one.”
Wrong campaign against Sasikala
Referring to DMK working president M K Stalin’s appeal for a CBI probe into the former chief minister’s treatment and death, Dhinakaran claimed such a demand was being made ever since the “wrong campaign” against Ms. Sasikala by them and others was fading.
“The wrong campaign against Chinnamma (Sasikala) does not exist anymore among people and therefore they are making all kinds of attempts,” he charged.
The opposition had on Sunday called for “unravelling the mystery” behind the death of the AIADMK supremo, who passed away on December 5 last year after 75 days of hospitalisation.
Dindigul Srinivasan’s comments
Forest Minister Dindigul C Srinivasan’s comments at a public meeting in Madurai on September 22 that AIADMK leaders had “lied” about Jayalalithaa’s health, fearing her aide Sasikala, has drawn flak from the opposition.
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 had said.
On Sunday also, Mr. Srinivasan said, “Sasikala and her family would tell us she (Jayalalithaa) ate idli, had coffee, was given sweets, did that and this... we told what she (Sasikala) said.”
Mr. Dhinakaran alleged Mr. Srinivasan was making such comments to save his position.
Tirade against Palaniswami, Panneerselvam
Training his guns against Mr. Palaniswami and Mr. Panneerselvam, he claimed they were “irked” at the “rousing reception” he receives from public and supporters and that is why his camp was being targeted.
People realised that all such attempts were being made by them to stay in power, he said.
Hitting out at Mr. Panneerselvam, Mr. Dhinakaran said, “The day he joined hands with Palaniswami, people realised that his six-month old dharma yudh (against Sasikala) was for post only, for the post of deputy chief minister.”
Earlier, it was Ms. Sasikala who had nominated him as the Chief Minister following the death of Jayalalithaa, he claimed.
Claiming that people wanted him to “send the betrayers home”, Mr. Dhinakaran asserted that they will have to face polls anytime soon and exuded confidence that his camp will emerge victorious in it.
