The rebelling O. Panneerselvam faction of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Wednesday observed a day-long fast in Chennai and other district capitals demanding an independent probe into the death of former chief minister J.Jayalalithaa.
The fast came a day after the Tamil Nadu government released the 12-page discharge summary given by Apollo hospitals and a 4-page report by the team of doctors from the AIIMS.
Jayalalithaa died on December 5 after being in the hospital for around 75 days.
Speaking to his supporters, Panneerselvam denied that he was consulted before the life support for Jayalalithaa was removed.
Making it clear that he wasn't part of the decision making team, he said, "The health secretary who made such a statement should take it back. Otherwise I will go to the court and file a case against him."
"On December 5 at 6.30 pm, I was told that Amma passed away at 4.30 pm," said the Jayalalithaa loyalist, who stepped down from the chief minister's post after AIADMK chief V.K.Sasikala was elected as the legislative party leader. Seeking a detailed probe, he said he would not backtrack till he got justice.
Panneerselvam said he was willing to cooperate with the investigating agencies and would fight till a CBI probe on Jayalalithaa's death was ordered. He said he had kept a distance from Sasikala ever since she returned to Poes Garden. "In 2012, after she came back to Poes Garden, I avoided talking to her on Amma's instructions," he said.
Panneerselvam grumbled that one family was trying to take away the AIADMK against Jayalalithaa's dreams, and said: "Sasikala promised Amma that she will not involve in party affairs when she came back in 2012. But what is happening now?"
A few days before, a 12-member delegation led by Rajya Sabha MP V. Maitreyan had called on President Pranab Mukherjee in Delhi and submitted a memorandum, seeking a probe. The delegation sought a judicial enquiry or a CBI probe in to the mystery prevailed over the treatment of the former chief minister.
