Daijiworld Media Network

(With Agency Inputs)

Updated

Chennai, Dec 6: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was laid to rest at Marina Beach near her mentor and AIADMK founder M.G. Ramachandran's (MGR) memorial on Tuesday evening

Jayalalithaa's last journey started from Rajaji Hall for Marina Beach on a military vehicle.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, Jayalalithaa's close confidante Sasikala Natarajan and others were seated on the military truck that was towing the casket-laden carriage.

The vehicle proceeded slowly through the streets packed with mourners towards Marina Beach.

At the Marina Beach after the military honours, Jayalalithaa's body was transferred to a sandalwood coffin from the glass casket.

The religious last rites were simplified with Sasikala and her relative putting some sandal wood, flowers and other items as per the advice given by a religious expert.

Around 6 pm, the coffin was closed and lowered into the grave.

Grief descended on Tamil Nadu as the mortal remains of its charismatic leader Jayalalithaa, one of the most prominent politicians in recent times, was taken to the burial site amid a sea of mourners.

PM Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee paid last respects to Jayalalithaa even as an inconsolable crowd continued to throng the Rajaji Hall to catch a final glimpse of their beloved 'Amma'.

Modi walked up with folded hands to the tricolour-draped body at the Rajaji Hall, where a sea of wailing mourners have gathered to view their leader one last time.

A blanket of grief enveloped the sprawling southern state since Jayalalithaa -- "Amma" to her passionate followers -- was pronounced dead just before midnight on Monday, ending an era in Tamil politics.

According to rough estimates, around 10 lakh people had gathered at the Rajaji Hall by Tuesday afternoon to pay their homage to Jayalalithaa, who was in her fifth term as Chief Minister when she died.

Modi took a helicopter to reach the venue after flying down from Delhi. He laid a floral wreath at the remains of the dead leader, who catapulted from silver screen to emerge as one of India's most popular leaders.

As a sea of mourners thronged the Rajaji Hall here to have the last glimpse of their 'revolutionary leader', Mukherjee walked towards the coffin and laid a floral wreath to pay homage to the iconic leader.

Earlier, an Indian Air Force plane carrying Mukherjee to Chennai returned to Delhi some 30 minutes into the flight due to a technical snag after taking off. He then took another aircraft.

In a condolence message to Tamil Nadu Governor Vidyasagar Rao, Mukherjee said the country "has lost an icon who was loved and admired by millions."

"She was regarded one of India's most charismatic and popular leaders," Mukherjee said.

There were dramatic displays of emotion, with people wailing inconsolably and beating their chests and heads. There were loud cries of "Amma, Amma".

Thousands of security personnel were deployed across Tamil Nadu amid fears of self-harming protests by her fans.

But the state was peaceful. At the Rajaji Hall, the serpentine queues were largely orderly.

Normal life was affected in the state. While supplies of essential items were not obstructed, few vehicles plied on the nearly deserted roads of Chennai.

Jayalalithaa's body was taken to her residence at Poes Garden shortly after midnight on Monday, hours after she was declared dead at the Apollo Hospitals following a 74-day battle for life.

Jayalalithaa's relatives as well as AIADMK MLAs and MPs were at the Rajaji Hall.

Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting M. Venkaiah Naidu, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, state Congress President S. Thirunavukarasar, movie stars Rajinikanth, Prabhu, Sathyaraj, Gautami and Y.G. Mahendran visited the hall. So did DMK leader M.K. Stalin.

Several chief ministers arrived here to pay their last respects to J Jayalalithaa and hailed their late Tamil Nadu counterpart for being a leader of the masses whose demise has left a "vacuum in public life" that cannot be filled.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said Jayalalithaa's efforts for the betterment of her state's women made her 'Amma' (mother) in the truest sense.

"What she did for women, the mothers and daughters, made her Amma (mother). Her demise has left a vacuum in public life which cannot be filled," he said.

Paying tributes, Chouhan hailed Jayalalithaa's welfare schemes for the people of Tamil Nadu. He said many states were intending to replicate the various welfare schemes introduced by Jayalalithaa.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called Jayalalithaa a leader of the poor.

"She was a sensitive leader, brave leader, her heart beat for the common people. In Indian political system, it is difficult to fill the vacuum. People of Delhi are also grieved over her death and I bring my condolences," he said here.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in his condolence message said Jayalalithaa made immense contribution to the development and welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu.

"I am deeply shocked by the sad demise of J Jayalalithaa. She was the leader of the masses and made immense contribution to the development and welfare for the people of Tamil Nadu," he said.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also paid tributes to the 67-year-old leader, who passed away last night after battling for life for 75 days.

Senior BJP leader and Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said Jayalalithaa's death was an "irreparable loss" to Tamil Nadu.

"She has lived in the hearts of people, and living in the hearts of people. People of Tamil Nadu consider her as a mother and fondly called her Amma and Amma means so much affection," he said.

The entire country was mourning her demise, Naidu added.

"Entire nation believes that we lost a dynamic, courageous bold administrator and an excellent public leader who had won hearts of the people," he said.

Naidu said he and his cabinet colleague Pon Radhakrishnan had been deputed by the Centre to participate in the final rites of the AIADMK leader and the funeral in Chennai.

"On behalf of the US, I extend my deepest condolences to the family of Jayalalithaa and the people of Tamil Nadu," Verma said.

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena said he was saddened by her death and noted that she had a "towering presence in Indian politics". Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu are separated by a strip of sea.

Earlier Report: 

Chennai, Dec 6: After battling for life in the Apollo Hospital for over two months, Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa passed away late night on Monday December 5. The announcement was made by Apollo Hospital after midnight. She was 68.

In a press release, Apollo Hospital stated that Jayalalithaa breathed her last at 11.30 pm.

Following the announcement, a 7-day mourning was declared in Tamil Nadu. Schools and colleges will remain shut for three days. Jayalalithaa's body will be kept at the Rajaji Hall for people to pay their respects, said the AIADMK.

The press release from the hospital stated that the Tamil Nadu chief minister, who was admitted to the hospital with 'complaints of fever, dehydration and underlying co-morbidities' on September 22, had responded well to the multi-disciplinary care in the critical care unit and subsequently recovered substantially to being able to take food orally. On this basis, she was shifted from the CCU to high dependency unit, where her health and vitals continued to improve under the close monitoring of an expert panel of specialists.

Jayalalithaa suffered a massive cardiac arrest on the evening of Sunday December 4, after which she was put on ECMO support. "Every possible attempt was made to sustain her revival. However, despite our best efforts the chief minister's underlying conditions rendered her unable to recover and she passed away at 11.30 pm," the hospital said, while expressing condolences and sympathies at her demise.

Earlier in the evening, much before her death was officially confirmed, a few news channels began flashing news that she was no more, sparking trouble and frenzy among the crowds. This prompted Apollo Hospital to issue a press release denying the reports. "Some TV channels are wrongly reporting that the Chief Minister is no more. This is totally baseless and false," the statement from the hospital said, adding, "They are advised to rectify this mistake based on this press release."

Jayalalithaa, 68, who suffered a cardiac arrest on Sunday evening was on life support at the hospital on Monday. Her condition deteriorated in the afternoon and she was described as being 'very critical' by the hospital.

A large number of doctors from Apollo and AIIMS provided all life saving measures.

When local media wrongly and prematurely flashed the news of her death, a group of emotionally charged AIADMK activists tried to barge into the hospital after breaking the police barricades but were pushed back by the police.

Many others simply broke down, unable to check their emotions. There were loud cries of "Amma, Amma!"

J Jayalalithaa, a popular leader who showered the poor with populist programmes and who was fondly called 'Amma', entered politics in the early 1980s as the propaganda secretary of AIADMK and was made the incharge of the noon meal scheme undertaken by the MGR government.

Jayalalithaa was born in a Brahmin family in Mysuru, Karnataka. A former heroine, she emerged as a fiesty leader in a state where forces of social justice had thrown up an anti-Brahmin political movement even before independence.

Having inherited the legacy of her mentor the late MGR, she practised politics on her own terms, fighting her party's arch rival DMK headed by M Karunanidhi for nearly 30 years.

Jayalalithaa's death will leave void: PM

New Delhi, Dec 6 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday condoled the death of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, saying that her death had left a huge void in Indian politics.

"Deeply saddened at the passing away of Selvi Jayalalithaa. Her demise has left a huge void in Indian politics," Modi tweeted.

Defining Jayalalithaa as a mass leader, Modi in another tweet wrote: "Jayalalithaaji's connect with citizens, concern for welfare of the poor, the women and marginalized will always be a source of inspiration."

"My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Tamil Nadu in this hour of grief," he said.

"May the Almighty grant them the strength to bear this irreparable loss with courage and fortitude," the Prime Minister said, adding, "I will always cherish the innumerable occasions when I had the opportunity to interact with Jayalalithaaji. May her soul rest in peace."

 
India loses visionary leader: Pranab on Jayalalithaa

New Delhi, Dec 6 (IANS): President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday said he was "extremely sad" as the country lost "a visionary leader" in the death of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.

In a condolence message to Vidyasagar Rao, the Tamil Nadu Governor, Mukherjee said the country "has lost an icon who was loved and admired by millions".

He said Jayalalithaa was "a visionary leader and administrator who distinguished herself through her political acumen and people friendly programmes.

"She was regarded one of India's most charismatic and popular leaders."

The President recalled that he used "to interact closely with her when we were together in the Rajya Sabha and during her different tenures as Chief Minister" of the southern state.

"She was progressive in her thought and pro-active in pursuing the issues that were close to her heart, such as the empowerment of women and welfare of children," he said about the actor-turned-politician who had appeared in films of different genres and performed a wide variety of roles.

"She served the country with distinction in different capacities, including as Member of Parliament, Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, first Woman Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly and as five times Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu."

Mukherjee said as Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa introduced a number of pro-poor schemes in various fields, including education, food security, provision of safe drinking water, the girl child.

"Her life was dedicated to the socio-economic transformation of Tamil Nadu and its people. Her contribution to the progress and development of Tamil Nadu will be long remembered."

Political leaders condole Jayalalithaa's demise

New Delhi, Dec 6 (IANS): Leaders of political parties on Tuesday condoled the death of Tamil Nadu Chief J. Jayalalithaa, who died on Monday night.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday condoled the death of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, calling her the leader of marginalised.

"We lost a great leader. Women, farmers, fishermen and the marginalised dreamt through her eyes. We will miss Jayalalithaaji, Amma to millions," Gandhi tweeted.

"Popular, strong, bold, efficient, people- friendly, charismatic leader, Amma. Always at the heart of people. Big loss.I am shocked,saddened," tweeted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

"I humbly urge the people of Tamil Nadu and AIADMK to face this big loss with courage and greatness. May she Rest in Peace."

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also condoled her death. "Death of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister very saddening. May she rest in peace. One day state mourning in Bihar."

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also took to Twitter to condole the death of the AIADMK leader.

"Very sad to hear the demise of Amma. A very very popular leader. Aam Aadmi's leader. May her soul rest in peace," the Aam Aadmi Party leader tweeted.

With Agency Inputs