Kollywood actor Rajinikanth and his daughter Aishwarya visited Apollo Hospital, Chennai, on Sunday evening to enquire about Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s health. The leader was hospitalised on September 22 for fever and dehydration. He was reportedly not allowed inside her ward, like many other recent visitors including Opposition leader MK Stalin, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Nita Ambani, and others.
Minister of State for Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan said that Narendra Modi will soon make a trip to Chennai to enquire about her health as well, The Times of India reported. Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah had gone to Apollo Hospital along with Jaitley last week.
On Thursday, Rajathi Ammal, wife of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief M Karunanidhi, visited the hospital in an attempt to meet the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader. Reports said she met the chief minister's close aide Sasikala Natarajan and spoke to her for close to an hour.
However, Stalin has said that in the crackdown on those allegedly spreading misinformation about Jayalalithaa, the police were targeting members of his party. He condemned such “harassment” and said that false complaints were being made by AIADMK cadres. He said, “We will never tolerate police targeting DMK men under the guise that they were spreading rumours on social media. I strongly condemn the police action”.
Apollo Hospital has released a number of statements over the last few weeks, saying Jayalalithaa is making gradual progress and is being constantly monitored by "intensivists and other consultants in the expert panel". It has also said she is on respiratory support. On October 11, acting Governor C Vidyasagar Rao reallocated her portfolios to state Finance Minister O Panneerselvam.
Rumours and speculation surrounding her health continue, as the AIADMK maintains that Jayalalithaa is gradually making progress. At least five people have been arrested for "spreading rumours" about the AIADMK leader's health. More than 50 cases have been registered against people for spreading similar rumours.
On October 10, the AIADMK had launched a social media campaign, urging supporters to help end speculation over the chief minister's condition. The party has asked supporters to use the campaign's image as their profile picture and use the hashtags #MyCMIsFine and #NoMoreRumours.
The chief minister's health has been a major concern for the state, even though the party has maintained that she is recovering. Mass prayer sessions, seeking divine intervention for the chief minister's speedy recovery, are being held across Tamil Nadu. Her illness comes as the state is embroiled in the Cauvery water-sharing dispute with Karnataka.
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