The late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa was buried in a sandalwood casket next to the memorial of her mentor, MG Ramachandran yesterday.
Her body lay in state at Rajaji Hall, a public auditorium in Chennai where lakhs of supporters, top leaders and celebrities paid their respects. 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 walked next to the vehicle in which her coffin was draped in the national flag and covered with flowers.
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.
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays his last respects to former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayaram Jayalalithaa |
People showered the hearse with flowers. Large photographs of Jayalalithaa were placed all around the coffin. Jayalalithaa’s long-time companion, Sasikala Natarajan and her family were seated next to the glass coffin along with Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, who took oaths on Monday night, hours after Jayalalithaa died.
Sasikala Natarajan, dressed in black was seen near Jayalalithaa’s body all day. At Rajaji Hall she was seen adjusting the green sari that Jayalalithaa was dressed in. Green was the leader’s favourite colour, she felt it was lucky for her.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his respects to Jayalalithaa on Monday 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 Jayalalithaa. Eight chief ministers, including Delhi’s Arvind Kejriwal and Devendra Fadnavis of Maharashtra, and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi attended Jayalalithaa’s funeral.
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 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.
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, Jayalalithaa beat a nearly three-decade-long tradition to be re-elected as Chief Minister. Before that, Tamil Nadu alternated between choosing Jayalalithaa and political adversary, the DMK.
Three deaths, two suicide attempts
Three persons died apparently due to shock and two cases of suicide attempts were reported from the district after the news of Jayalalithaa’s deteriorating health spread on Monday evening, police said.
In Singanallur, a 65-year-old painter complained of chest pain while watching television news on Jayalalithaa’s health in his house. However, he died before being taken to the hospital, police said. In another incident, Palaniammal (62) of Thudiyalur, died of shock after watching the TV news in her house on Tuesday afternoon, they said.
Similarly, a 38-year-old load worker, Raja of Erode, collapsed on the chair, while watching the news channel.
Though his wife called for assistance, the 108 crew of emergency service declared him dead on their arrival, police said.
Meanwhile, one Loganathan attempted suicide by jumping down from a 50-foot tall mobile tower in Kuniamuthur in the early hours.
However, police reached the spot and managed to bring him down, before letting him off with a stern warning.
In second such incident, a 45-year-old AIADMK worker, Ramachandran attempted self-imolation near Annur on Monday night.
With 60 percent burns, he is being treated at the Government Hospital here, police added. - The Indian Express
