CHENNAI: Actor Gautami’s surprise move to write a letter to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a probe into the alleged mystery behind the former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s health triggered a strong reaction from the ruling party, which charged that this was part of a plan to split the AIADMK and topple its government.
On Thursday, Gautami wrote a letter to the Prime Minister – which she published on her blog and tweeted from her account – to draw his attention to the “burning questions” about Jaya’s hospitalisation, treatment, reported recovery and unexpected death. “There has been a near total blanketing of information regarding these matters,” said the actor, the first prominent personality to openly raise suspicions that were making the rounds as messages on WhatsApp groups.
This rankled the AIADMK, which charged there was an attempt to fracture the outfit. Reacting to Gautami’s letter, AIADMK spokesperson CR Saraswathi pointed out it was not just the party functionaries who said Jaya was recovering well. “From Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao to Rahul Gandhi, many were briefed by the doctors about the health condition and the treatment. Does she doubt the reputed doctors from AIIMS and others?” Saraswathi asked.
None will be permitted to visit a patient admitted to ICU, she contended. These rumours, Saraswathi alleged, were part of the efforts to break the party. She also noted that the actor, who professed great admiration for Jayalalithaa, had not visited the hospital even once to meet the Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, speaking to the media on Friday evening, Gautami stood her ground, maintaining that she had only expressed what was in the common man’s mind. “Everybody wants to know what led to the death. I’m sure people who were taking care of her were responsible. But the whole thing was so secretive. So, as the public, we deserve to know what caused the Chief Minister’s death,” she said.
Gautami’s last popular post was to announce separation from her long-time live-in partner, noted actor Kamal Haasan. Days before that, she had met the Prime Minister in Delhi. When asked why she had chosen to write to the PM, she said he had always portrayed himself to be a people’s leader. “I thought it was appropriate to write the letter to him directly,” she said.