Why so much secrecy about Jaya’s death, questions actor Gautami

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 9

Tamil actor Gautami Tadimalla has written a blogpost addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi where she has raised questions about the "secrecy" maintained by the Tamil Nadu government during the treatment of its late chief minister Jayalalithaa.

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The 48-year-old star questioned why nobody was allowed access to her when she was admitted in the hospital.

Jayalalithaa died on December 5 at the age of 68 following cardiac arrest. She was admitted to Apollo Hospital on September 22, here after she complained of fever and dehydration.

"There has been a near total blanketing of information regarding these matters. Nobody had been allowed access to her and many dignitaries who visited her with deep concern were denied an opportunity to convey their wishes in person. Why this secrecy and isolation of a beloved public leader and the head of the Tamil Nadu government? What/whose authority restricted access to the late Chief Minister?," she wrote.

Tragedy tht musnt b deepnd by unanswrd Q's Hon PMsir-a citizen's request @narendramodi @rajnathsingh @MVenkaiahNaidu https://t.co/TFTlaVvtju

— Gautami (@gautamitads) December 8, 2016

Gautami said she would like to know the people who were taking all the decisions regarding Jayalalithaa's treatment.

However, this is not the first time the issue has been raised, earlier too, questions were raised by expelled AIADMK MP Sasikala Pushpa over the issue.

On the day, her condition was reported as critical by the Apollo hospital, expelled AIADMK MP Sasikala Pushpa in the Rajya Sabha leveled similar allegations as she stood holding a placard in the House.

The words on the placard questioned why there was a meeting of MLAs going on in the Apollo Hospital when Amma was actually “better”, as was earlier reported by the doctors there.

She was also seen approaching various union ministers on the Treasury Benches while the Opposition were shouting slogans in the House on the demonetisation issue.

Later, a senior minister told The Tribune that Sasikala Pushpa actually feared a conspiracy behind reports of sudden deterioration in the health of Amma. She later told some reporters that bulletins released by the hospitals could not be blindly trusted, and the Prime Minister should probe the issue.

“Why even ministers were not allowed to meet her? Amit Shah, Rahul Gandhi, all went to see Jayalalithaa, but they were not allowed. There has been no transparency since September 22 when she was admitted,” Pushpa was quoted as saying.

Fearing that Amma could be under some “unconstitutional authority”, she wanted the Prime Minister to intervene.