BJP supports, Opposition parties decry Jayalalithaa portrait unveiling

CHENNAI: The opposition parties on Sunday decried the move to unveil the portrait of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa in the Tamil Nadu Assembly with the PMK even threatening to move the court, while BJP supported the move, saying Jayalalithaa deserved the honour since she had been CM six times. The DMK petitioned the Assembly secretary against the government move.
 
Announcing its decision to boycott the event marking the unveiling of a portrait of late Jayalalithaa on Monday, DMK working president M.K. Stalin on Sunday said as per the Supreme Court verdict Jayalalithaa was a convict in the disproportionate assets case. “Since Ms Jayalalithaa has died, she could not serve the jail term”, he said and condemned the move to unveil her portrait in the Assembly.

Assembly Speaker P. Dhanapal has no right or powers to unveil the portrait of a person convicted in a corruption case, he charged. It will be an insult to the Speaker, who expunges remarks that were not allowed in the House if he unveils the portrait of a person convicted in a corruption case, Mr Stalin added.

DMK petitions Speaker: DMK legislator J. Anbazhagan who petitioned the Assembly secretariat against the move said Jayalalithaa’s portrait in the Assembly hall would be a mockery of democracy, as she was a convict in a corruption case. 

DMK’s ally Congress has, however, welcomed the government decision. “I wholeheartedly welcome the move to unveil Jayalalithaa’s portrait. As far as I am concerned, there is nothing wrong in this and I have no objection. Also, it is not wrong to construct a memorial for her,” Congress MLA S. Vijayadharani said. “These are the times when it is very tough for a woman to sustain in politics. But Jayalalithaa crossed so many hurdles successfully and she was a great leader accepted by people”, she added.

Vijayakanth, Anbumani too oppose
As the AIADMK government is gearing up for the unveiling of the portrait DMDK president Vijayakanth said, “Jayalalithaa was convicted by the court in the disproportionate assets case. Hence, her portrait should not be unveiled in the Assembly.”

The Former Union Health Minister and PMK youth wing leader Dr Anbumani Ramadoss said, “Unveiling of Jayalalithaa’s portrait in the TN Assembly is unacceptable.” He called upon the government to drop the idea at once and said his party would appr-oach the court to stop initiative, if necessary.

CPI (M) state secretary G.Ramakrishnan said, “This will set a wrong example, as she was convicted by the court in a corruption case.”

BJP supports unveiling Jaya’s portrait 
Welcoming the move, BJP state president Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan said, her portrait can be unveiled in the Assembly on the basis that she was elected six times as the CM of Tamil Nadu. “There is nothing wrong in opening her portrait in TN Assembly hall,” she added.

On Saturday, the State government said the late CM’s portrait would be unveiled in the Assembly on Monday by Assembly Speaker P. Dhanapal. Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami will preside over the function in the presence of Deputy CM O. Panneerselvam, said Assembly secretary K. Boopathy.