Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Monday deplored campaign by “some elements” to portray that law and order in the State had deteriorated in the last few days. He said it was unacceptable to link the government with agitations conducted by some people and organisations on their own “out of love and affection” for the former Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, who is in prison in Bangalore since September 27.
In a statement, the Chief Minister appealed to people not to fall prey to the “trap” set by the Opposition parties. The State was an “oasis of peace” and development works were in progress. In the last 40 months, Ms Jayalalithaa had, as Chief Minister, ensured that the benefits of schemes reached the public, he said.
Under the given circumstances, organisations and people should devote themselves to fulfilling targets set in the Tamil Nadu Vision 2023 and 2014 Industrial Policy documents, both of which were unveiled when Ms Jayalalithaa was in power.
Mr. Pannerselvam, who issued another statement in his capacity as AIADMK treasurer, exhorted party members to conduct themselves in a manner that would not give any room for the criticism on the law and order situation. The judgment [by a special court in Bangalore] against Ms Jayalalithaa was “not final” and there was little doubt that she would come out of this case too successfully, he asserted .
Initial reaction Around 3.30 p.m. as some television channels flashed that the Karnataka High Court had granted bail to Ms Jayalalithaa, several government employees at the Secretariat felt a sense of relief and joy.
Around the time, some Ministers were seen leaving the Secretariat in hurry so that they could make arrangements to celebrate. But, when it was known that the bail petition had been rejected, a sense of disappointment and even dejection was writ large on their faces.
Mr. Paneerselvam, who held a meeting to review law and order earlier in the day, had one more meeting in the evening. He finally left the Secretariat at 7.30 p.m.
