“Will cut-off tongue of anyone raising Jaya’s health issue”

A ruling AIADMK MP has stoked controversy by threatening to “cut-off” the tongue of anyone who raises questions about the health of party supremo and TN Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

PR Sundaram, Lok Sabha MP representing this Namakkal constituency, made the remarks while addressing a public meeting here last night.

Sundaram, a former two-time MLA, also took a swipe at Jayalalithaa’s arch rival and DMK President M Karunanidhi, who had originally raised the issue of the Chief Minister’s health and asked her to take rest.

“The tongue of anyone who talks about Amma’s health will be cut off,” Sundaram threatened amidst loud cheers from the crowd.

He also took a dig at Karunanidhi, saying he was already 93 and that the DMK President had a desire’ to live till 100 years.

At a public meeting earlier this month, the DMK chief had said, “Tamil Nadu is a state without a Chief Minister, she is not doing her job since she is not well and that is why she should take rest.”

The reference was to the AIADMK supremo skipping the Iftar event hosted by the party here on July 1 in which several prominent Muslims participated. “I am unable to come to the Iftar party due to a sudden illness though it is my wish to participate in it (organised by AIADMK) as usual,” Jayalalithaa had said in her address at the Iftar party, read out by Finance Minister and party treasurer O Panneerselvam.

TNCC President EVKS Elangovan had also raised the issue, saying he was ‘worried’ about Jayalalithaa’s health.

However, the Chief Minister had turned up at the Secretariat on July 16 to attend a series of official events.

Earlier today, Jayalalithaa chaired a meeting of her cabinet while also addressing her party’s MPs ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament starting tomorrow.

–PTI