Speculation on Pushkar’s death affecting us: Family

Thiruvananthapuram, March 26:

The continued speculation by vested interests and the media over the mysterious death of Sunanda Pushkar is deeply affecting her family, a statement said here Wednesday.

The communique issued to the media here also said that despite statements by each member of the family that they suspected neither suicide nor foul play in Pushkar’s death, some elements in the media and individuals with vested interests have continued to pursue the angle of alleged poisoning, much to the distress of the deceased’s family.

“Now that the leaked viscera report has apparently concluded that there was no poison in her system, as we always believed, we request all concerned to stop their unfounded speculation,” reads the statement signed by her father Lt. Col. (retd.) Pushkar Nath Dass, her brothers and son.

“We stress that we have not received any official copy of the post-mortem report or the viscera report, and only know what the media has reported. We urge the police to conclude their investigations at the earliest so that she can rest in peace,” reads the statement.

Ever since the campaign leading up to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls began here early this month, the Left opposition has been going hammer and tongs over the controversial death of Pushkar, wife of Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor.

Much to the surprise of many, a “Justice for Sunanda Pushkar campaign” has also been launched in the state capital.

Pushkar was found dead in her room at a five star hotel in Delhi in January. The death triggered a high-pitched controversy in the media especially because of reports of alleged differences between the deceased and Tharoor.

In the days before her death, Pushkar had also alleged in television interviews that Tharoor was having an affair with a Pakistani journalist.

Tharoor, who won the 2009 polls from the Thiruvananthapuram constituency by 99,998 votes, however, is confident that nothing can stop him from winning again from the capital.

Congress spokesperson Rajmohan Unnithan said it was baffling to note that the Left opposition appeared more concerned about Pushkar, than her immediate family members.

“This is nothing playing cheap electoral politics and very soon they will realise their folly,” said Unnithan.

(IANS)