Chennai: With top politicians like Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Leader of Opposition M K Stalin reaching out to the family of Dr Simon, it is said that the last wish of the neurosurgeon, to bury his body at Kilpauk Cemetery, might be fulfilled. A Church head has also said they had no objections to this, it is to be noted.
Two days after the body of neurosurgeon, who tested positive and died on Sunday was buried amid protests, his family today appealed to the Tamilnadu government to fulfill his last wish–to bury his mortal remains at Kilpauk cemetry in the city.
It may be recalled that neurosurgeon Simon Hercules had died of coronavirus on Sunday and his body was taken to Kilpauk cemetery where locals objected fearing spread of virus.
Later, the body was taken to Velangadu crematorium, where the officials met with violent protests, resulting in attacks on healthcare workers, doctors and damages to ambulance in which the body was brought to the burial ground.
However, after police used mild force to disperse the protestors, the body was buried with police protection.
Meanwhile, the family of Simon today appealed to Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami to shift his mortal remains to the Kilpauk cemetery as per his last wish.
In a video message, the doctor’s wife Anandhi Simon, said it was his last wish that his body should be buried in Kilpauk cemetery.
The family had obtained permission to bury him at the Kilpauk cemetery, but due to protests it was buried in Velangadu.
Stating that the family could not witness his burial, she said Simon was buried in a sealed casket and this could be shifted to the Kilpauk cemetery. It would not create any trouble for anyone, she said.
She said “Dr Simon, before being put on ventilator, told us that his last wish was that he should be buried as per our rituals. ‘Please fulfill his last wish,” she said in an appeal to the Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, Palaniswami reached out to the doctor’s family and offered his condolences to them. In a tweet, he said “at around 1230 pm spoke to Dr Simon’s wife Anandhi Simon over phone and consoled her”.
“I requested her to stay strong taking into account the future of her son and daughter”, he added. Stalin also spoke to Anandhi Simon and offered his condolences.
In a statement here, he said he spoke to her over phone and consoled her. He also spoke to journos, who were under treatment aftertesting positive for coronavirus, and enquired about their health condition.