Jayalalithaa To Be Buried In Sandalwood Casket Next To Mentor MGR

Mangalore Today News Network

Chennai, Dec 06, 2016:  J Jayalalithaa’s funeral procession is moving slowly towards Marina Beach, a three-km journey from Rajaji Hall, a public auditorium in Chennai where the powerful politician’s body lay in state all day as lakhs of supporters, top leaders and celebrities paid their respects. She will be buried in a sandalwood casket next to the memorial of her mentor, MG Ramachandran. Ms Jayalalithaa, 68, died at 11.30 on Monday night, unable to recover from a huge cardiac arrest that forced her onto life support systems the day before.

Thousands walking next to the vehicle in which her coffin is being taken to Marina Beach. Lakhs had packed the massive grounds of Rajaji Hall and grown men and women wept in grief as they attempted to reach the body of their Amma or mother, which was kept in a casket draped in the national flag.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his respects to Ms Jayalalithaa this afternoon, flying to Rajaji Hall in a chopper from the Chennai airport. Security was tested as massive crowds surged forward to get a glimpse of the Prime Minister.

President Pranab Mukherjee, whose arrival in Chennai was delayed by a technical snag in his plane, too paid tribute to Ms Jayalalithaa. Eight chief ministers, including Delhi’s Arvind Kejriwal and Devendra Fadnavis of Maharashtra, and Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi are attending Ms Jayalalithaa’s funeral.  

Sasikala Natarajan, Ms Jayalalithaa’s long-time companion, remained near the politician’s body today. She was seen adjusting the green sari that Ms Jayalalithaa was dressed in. Green was the leader’s favourite colour, she felt it was lucky for her.

Ms Jayalalithaa served four times as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Twice, she had to quit office because of corruption allegations and returned to take oath again. In each case, loyalist O Panneerselvam stood in for her. He was sworn in Chief Minister last night for a third term.

Ms Jayalalithaa died at Apollo Hospital, where she was admitted on September 22 with complaints of fever and dehydration. Her condition soon worsened and she was treated for a serious lung ailment. For many weeks, she was on support systems in the Intensive Care section.

In huge relief for the administration, there has been no violence since the news of Ms Jayalalithaa’s death. For lakhs whose devotion to her bordered on the religious, self-harming shows of loyalty were not uncommon.

When she was arrested on corruption charges in 2014, her party said 200 people committed suicide in anger and sorrow. Public buses were set on fire. From within jail, the politician asked - as urged by the Supreme Court - for calm to be maintained.

Ms Jayalalithaa was revered especially by the rural poor for the vast amount of giveaways she provided - mixer-grinders, laptops - ahead of elections. In recent years, her government introduced the Amma brand of massively subsidised water, canteens and medicines which endeared her further to the poor, while stressing the state’s finances.

Earlier this year, Ms Jayalalithaa beat a nearly three-decade-long tradition to be re-elected as Chief Minister. Before that, Tamil Nadu alternated between choosing Ms Jayalalithaa and political adversary, the DMK.