DMK government failed to act against those involved in illegal kidney sale, says Palaniswami

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Sunday charged that the DMK government failed to take action on the hospital and those involved in the alleged kidney sale.

Addressing a well-attended gathering at Mannachanallur near here, as part of his State-wide Makkalai Kappom Thamizhagathai Meetpom campaign, he alleged that the hospital which was facing the charges of illegal kidney transplantation was being run by the family close to a DMK MLA.

Acting on complaints of illegal kidney transplants, a senior IAS officer of the Health Department conducted an inquiry recently. Based on his report, the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services had suspended the kidney transplant licence of the hospital. It was found to have committed serious medical malpractices and kidney thefts. The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court had taken a serious view of the racket. However, the government had not taken action against those involved in it as the hospital was being run by the DMK MLA.

Mr. Palaniswami said it was a crime to steal human organs. A woman from Pallipalayam in Namakkal district had alleged that her liver was harvested instead of kidney. It was cruel. By taking advantage of the poverty, the poor and marginalised people were targeted in the organ racket. All those behind the racket should be brought to book. The AIADMK, if voted back to power in 2026 Assembly elections, would conduct a detailed inquiry on the racket and all those involved in it would be punished as per the law.

The Leader of the Opposition said the AIADMK had never compromised in ensuring the rights of Tamil Nadu in the Cauvery water dispute. When he was the Chief Minister, he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and impressed upon him the need for a comprehensive scheme to prevent pollution of the Cauvery from Mettur on the lines of the Ganges restoration scheme. Based on it, the Union government announced the Nadanthai Vazhi Cauvery scheme in Parliament. But, the DMK government had failed to take steps to implement the scheme in spite of the AIADMK raising the issue in the State Assembly. However, the AIADMK took up the issue with the Union Government, and it had allocated funds to implement the scheme, he added.