BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Friday demanded that President's Rule be imposed in Tamil Nadu because Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had been "incommunicado" since she was admitted to hospital with infections.
Meanwhile, Congress vice-president Rahul gandhi visited the Apollo Hospital in Chennai, where she is undergoing treatment.
In a statement released on Friday, October 7, Swamy has written: "The Union government should declare President's Rule in Tamil Nadu in view of the administrative disarray in the state following the indefinite hospitalisation of the chief minister and her having to remain for health reasons incommunicado." Jayalalithaa has been in hospital for more than two weeks now, and "a retired chief secretary has been allowed to conduct the business of the state," Swamy said in the statement.
He added: "During this ad hoc administrative situation, there has been an activisation of the sleeper cell of Isis [the Islamic State group, also known as Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) or Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil)] in the districts of Ramanathapuram, Tirunveli [also Tirunelveli], Madurai and Kanya Kumari and a collaborative and supportive action by the Dravida Kazhagam, leftover LTTE, and disruptive groups such as underground Naxalites, to create an upheaval in the state, causing a massive disorder and lawlessness."
He said he was urging for the invocation of Article 356 of the Constitution, putting the state assembly in suspended animation and imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, of AFSPA, in the southern districts of the state and Chennai for six months in light of the terrorist activity.
"The Apollo Hospital has expressly made clear in the press release that she is required to remain in hospital for a further period. Hence the pre-emptive action by the Union government is not only constitutional, but also urgent," he added. Read his press release here:
Subramanian Swamy writes to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, urges him to impose President's rule in Tamil Nadu. pic.twitter.com/fgmIN2b0CR
— ANI (@ANI_news) October 7, 2016
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi visited the Apollo Hospital in Chennai, where Jayalalithaa is undergoing treatment. Sources say he did not meet her during the visit, but interacted with the doctors who were treating her. He reportedly asked them about the treatment regimen she was on.
He said after the visit: "Jayalalithaa ji is recovering, and I am sure she will be alright soon." Apollo Hospital authorities had just on Thursday evening said the AIADMK leader was making "gradual progress."
