 "Jayalalithaa laid to rest with full state honours as millions bid her a tearful adieu")
Lakhs of grieving men and women on Tuesday bid a tearful adieu to J Jayalalithaa, the charismatic chief minister who held sway over Tamil Nadu politics for more than three decades with a pro-poor image, as the AIADMK supremo was buried in Chennai with full state honours.
Ocean Of Crowd With Tears In Eyes For #Amma's Last Ride. #RIPAmma#RajajiHall #RIPJayalalithaa #RIPJaya pic.twitter.com/jSmKO5Ab7S
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) December 6, 2016
Her mortal remains were kept at the Rajaji Hall in Chennai for the people to pay their last respects. Thousands of people hailing ‘Puratchi Thalaivi Amma’ (Revolutionary Leader Amma) dotted the roads as they walked with the cortege that was part of a military convoy in which her coffin was carried, wrapped in the national flag and covered with flowers. Social media was also stormed with condolence messages and tweets expressing solidarity with the supporters and friends of the departed leader.
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) December 6, 2016 In a move that will remain symbolic, Jayalalithaa was laid to rest near her mentor and AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran. It was MGR who initiated a young Jayalalithaa to politics, after which she went on to become the most powerful woman in Tamil Nadu politics. Jayalalithaa, a spinster who never shied away from flaunting her religious identity and beliefs, was surprisingly buried and not cremated.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsSasikala Natarajan, the close confidante of Jayalalithaa for over three decades, was beside her body throughout the day and later conducted the religious rituals before the sandalwood casket was lowered at a site close to MGR memorial on the shores of Marina beach. Various leaders including Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Tamil Nadu Governor Vidyasagar Rao, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Paneerselvam, Speaker Dhanapal and former governor K Rosiah placed wreaths at the feet of the body that was draped in a silk saree in her favourite green colour and a sandalwood garland placed around her neck.
The mortal remains of Jayalalithaa was earlier taken from her Poes Garden residence to Rajaji Hall, hours after she died at a private hospital late last night after battling for life for 75 days. According to CNN-News18, thousands of people thronged the venue to catch the last glimpse of their leader. Many in the crowd had been waiting for the past 36 hours as they had earlier stood outside the hospital to hear some news about the health of their leader.
A sea of people converged at Rajaji Hall where late CM J #jayalalithaa's body has been kept for paying homage. @NewIndianXpress @Ram_TNIE pic.twitter.com/SjRrXcKQTv
— gopu mohan (@gm_madras) December 6, 2016
With the Central government ordering a state funeral, personnel from the three armed forces paid their respects and gave a guard of honour before Sasikala conducted the last rites with the aid of a Brahmin priest. DMK leader MK Stalin and superstar Rajnikanth were among the many dignitaries who paid homage to the departed leader.
Last Glimpse of CM #jayalalithaa
— Rajinikanth Fans (@Rajni_FC) December 6, 2016
Great Leader Passed Away #IronLady #வீரப்புதல்வி #Ripamma pic.twitter.com/FZspAsvyvs
Many prominent faces from the Tamil film industry like Suriya Sivakumar and Simbu also paid their last respects to the former actor-turned-politician.
Across the country, political stalwarts noted how the AIADMK chief had unleashed numerous pro-poor schemes as Chief Minister that earned her fame not only in the state but across the country. Jayalalithaa’s last journey started from Rajaji Hall, where lakhs thronged for a final look at their iconic leader, and slowly moved towards the Marina Beach flooded with mourners.
Massive crowd assembled at #Rajaji #Hall to pay their last respects to #Jayalalithaa (DIPR pix) @businessline pic.twitter.com/2vtiyICFbH
— T E Raja Simhan (@terajasimhan) December 6, 2016
Jayalalithaa commanded such reverence and support from the people that many were speculating that the law and order situation may deteriorate in the wake of her death. The Central government had also put security forces on standby, in the situation of an emergency. However, the Tamil Nadu police force and administration garnered much praise as Jayalalithaa’s last rites were conducted amid a largely peaceful atmosphere. Although emotions ran high, amid tight security, which included the deployment of armed reserve and rapid action forces, the procession wound its way to the famous Marina Beach peacefully.
👮 Hats-off #TamilNadu Policemen & Policewomen#TNPolice #ApolloHospital #TamilNadu #JayaHealth #GodblessAmma#Chennai #Apollo #Jayalalithaa pic.twitter.com/mlB1symIoJ
— Cinema Calendar (@CinemaCalendar) December 5, 2016
Emotional men and women thronged terraces of high rise buildings and on both sides of the road, for having a last glimpse of the departed leader that was being taken in a long cavalcade of several vehicles besides the gun-carriage. The legendary leader’s body was finally laid to rest with full state honours, next to MGR memorial, off the Marina Beach. #Jayalalitha 😭 #Ripamma #jayalalithaa #Amma #TamilNadu #Chennai #JayaHealth #Humanity #Amma #TamilNaduChiefMinister 😭 A photo posted by dkskapil (@happysharingbydks) on Dec 6, 2016 at 1:45am PST With inputs from agencies
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