Breaking her nearly three-week long silence since she was lodged in a Bangalore prison after being convicted by a special court there in the assets case, AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa on Friday evening called upon her party cadre not to say or do anything that could besmirch the Judiciary’s majesty at any level, and help in upholding peace and order in Tamil Nadu.
In an appeal from jail following her lawyer’s assurance to the court, Ms. Jayalalithaa said that as the leader of the party founded by M.G. Ramachandran and one that was inspired by the ideals of C.N. Annadurai, she continued her service in public life by drawing strength from the path shown by the party’s founder-leaders to “have the heart to bear any adversity.”
Jayalalithaa asks cadre not to defame judiciary
Ms. Jayalalithaa has asked party workers not to defame the judiciary and help to maintain law and order in the State.
“The content of the Supreme Court’s order was conveyed to me in the prison. I’m confident that I will emerge victorious in my appeal in [the high] court,” she said in her first statement after being lodged in the Bangalore Central Prison 20 days ago.
Breaking her silence, she called upon her supporters and cadre alike not to be overawed by their affection for her and asked them not to comment on the verdict or the judge or the functioning of courts. “No one should indulge in any act defaming the judiciary,” she said, directing the cadre to remain calm to maintain law and order and not to give room to anyone to complain. Quoting DMK founder C.N. Annadurai, Ms. Jayalalithaa said: “A leader should have a heart to endure any adversity.”
Ms. Jayalalithaa was sentenced to four-year imprisonment in the disproportionate assets case by a special court in Bangalore on September 27.
Since then and after the Karnataka High Court refused her bail, the State has been witnessing sporadic violence at many places. The ruling AIADMK has come under severe criticism from the Opposition for failing to maintain law and order.
There was a widespread opinion that an instruction by Ms. Jayalalithaa would calm things down, but there was no word from her initially.
AIADMK treasurer O. Pannerselvam, who took over as Chief Minister, then appealed for calm, and things returned to normal.
Ms. Jayalalithaa, however, remained inaccessible even to her party leaders and former Cabinet colleagues during her 21-day incarceration. Her statement, released by the party headquarters here, follows the submission by her lawyer Fali S. Nariman in the Supreme Court earlier in the day that he would get her to issue a statement to help maintain law and order in the State.
