Duraikannu’s death: Minister warns of legal action against Stalin

CHENNAI: Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar warned that legal action would be taken on DMK president MK Stalin over his remarks on the state government in the issue of death of former agriculture minister R Duraikannu.

“There are several other issues in the state to do politics with, but Tamil Nadu has got an Opposition leader who tries to gain mileage even in the death of Duraikannu. We condemn Stalin for his statement on the death of the former minister and legal action would be taken on him,” said Vijaya Baskar.

Recently, Stalin rolled out a press communique in which he accused the AIADMK of parking several crores of party money with Duraikannu and had threatened the family of the former minister to release the amount when he was hospitalised. Stalin also alleged that there was delay in the announcement of death and only after the family agreed to release the amount his death was announced.

Vijaya Baskar refuted the claims of Stalin and said that there was complete transparency in the treatment given to Duraikannu. “After Duraikannu

was admitted in Kauveri Hospital on October 13, Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan worked in close association with the doctors in the hospital for best treatment. An expert team of doctors from Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital were in constant touch with the doctors of the private hospital and were providing inputs,” said Vijaya Baskar.

Quoting the medical records, Vijaya Baskar said that after October 24, despite giving best treatment, health of Duraikannu deteriorated as his lung infection increased to 90 per cent. On October 25, Duraikannu suffered a heart attack and so his heart was made functional through VA EMCO.

“Doctors noticed movement of his pupils, hands and legs on October 26 and 27 and they are also available in the report. Apart from this, the complete report of treatment given to Duraikannu is also available and in the report the day-wise treatment is available,” said Vijaya Baskar, who also asked Stalin not to doubt the noble profession of doctors and reminded him that former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi also received treatment in the same Kauveri Hospital.