Former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa gave instructions for two hours from her hospital bed on the action to be taken over the Cauvery issue, ex-Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary P Rama Mohana Rao told a panel probing her death.
He said late Jayalalithaa on September 27, 2016 instructed her government secretaries, including him, on the Cauvery issue from the Apollo Hospital bed where she was admitted on September 22 that year.
The former Chief Secretary told reporters that he recounted this meeting during his cross-examination by counsel for Sasikala today at the panel.
He said he told the Justice A Arumughaswamy Commission of Inquiry that then Advocate General R Muthukumaraswamy also participated in the meeting in 2016.
"She spoke with zest on protecting Tamil Nadu's rights on Cauvery," Rao said, adding that her instructions to them covered the stand to be taken in the Supreme Court and arguments to be adduced to get the Centre form the Cauvery Management Board.
"I was asked about her frame of mind that day and if she had given instructions on Cauvery. I deposed saying she was in a good frame of mind and gave instruction on the matter," Rao said, adding the meeting was held between 4 PM and 6 PM that day.
The former top bureaucrat said Jayalalithaa also asked them about the action being pursued by them.
To a question, he said, "I did not give any political opinion. I gave my answers to questions during cross-examination."
Counsel for the jailed leader V K Sasikala, N Raja Senthoor Pandian, said that in the event of the Commission not inquiring key witnesses, "however big they may be like Chief Minister K Palaniswami or Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, we will examine them after making due representation to the Commission."
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