TeluguabroadSympathy builds up for Jayalalithaa
Clutching the photographs of party supremo J. Jayalalithaa, the AIADMK cadres across the state continued their fast and ‘Gandhian’ agitations for the eighth consecutive day. In Puducherry, normal life was disrupted due to the bandh called by the AIADMK party as shops, business establishments and even cinema theatres remained closed. Buses were also off the roads and petrol bunks were shut even in the Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam areas of the union territory.
In Chennai, all the party MLAs sat in day-long fast at MGR memorial at the Marina demanding the early release of Jayalalithaa. The rebel DMDK legislators and other allies too joined the fast to express solidarity. There was some tension at Pammal as two cadres doused themselves in kerosene and attempted to immolate. They were forcibly stopped. The cadres and some members of public sat in fast in at least 30 places in the city.
Former legislator Saraswathi, who has been fasting at the famous Anjaneyar temple in Namakkal, offered special pooja with Sri Rama Jayam that she had written one lakh and eight times. Special poojas were performed in several places, including Kollimalai, Thiruchengode and Thalamalai. Coimbatore Mayor P Rajkumar and his predecessor SM Velusamy sat with about 50 cadres in front of the court complex.
The Anna Cable services were suspended in most places barring Chennai. DGNP Sekar of the federation of cable TV associations told reporters that subscribers had been informed in advance about the shutdown for the day. The bus operators’ federation too joined the agitation, announcing suspension of services on Sunday.
The AIADMK cadres performed ‘maga yagam’ at Vadiveeswaram Idartheetha Perumal temple praying for the early release of Jayalalithaa. Abhishekams were performed for Lord Anjaneya at Sri Thanumalaiyan temple at Sucheenthram and at the famous Nagaraja Swamy temple in Nagercoil. Special prayers were also conducted at the Kottar Roman Catholic Church.
