We Lied About Jayalalithaa's Health, Confesses Tamil Nadu Minister

Nine months after former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa died in a Chennai hospital after a prolonged illness, Forest Minister Dindigul C Sreenivasan has asked for the public's forgiveness for lying about her health when she was at hospital. "None of us saw Jayalalithaa when she was hospitalised... We were forced to lie," Mr Sreenivasan said at a recent party meeting, remarks that are seen as pointing fingers at VK Sasikala, her long-time companion who took over the party after Jayalalithaa's death in December last year.