Chennai: A day after opening former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s memorial at Marina, there were more in store from CM Edappadi K Palaniswami today.
Palaniswami, who inaugurated her Poes Garden house as memorial and unveiled a bronze statue of ‘Amma’ at Lady Wellington College today, said, “henceforth, Amma’s birthday on 24 February will be celebrated as government function every year.”
Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, senior Ministers and higher officials were present.
More than four years after her demise, Veda Nilayam, where former Jayalalithaa’s political moves took place for around three decades, was today opened for public view by Palaniswami.
However, the public will not be allowed for time-being, as the Madras high court, while permitting the Tamilnadu government to proceed with the ceremony scheduled for today, however, restrained on Wednesday the government from throwing it open to the public without its permission.
“The door of the residence shall not be opened since there are valuables inside the house which belongs to the legal heirs. Only the gate of the property can be opened for conducting the function,” Justice N Seshasayee said. Following this, the government has filed an appeal.
Veda Nilayam, Jayalalithaa’s residence is located in a 10-grounds land in Poes Garden. Jayalalithaa and her mother Sandhya had purchased the land way back in July 1967, before Jayalalalithaa turned into an active politician, for a sum of Rs 1.32 lakh. Jayalalithaa had lived in Veda Nilayam for over 44 years since 1968.
The house warming ceremony took place on 15 May, 1968, when she was a leading actor in Tamil film industry.
The 24,000 sq ft residence of Jayalalithaa was one place where not even the VVIPs could barge in without an invite. For years it was a heavily guarded, secure residence, where one had to go through three different check posts.
The Tamilnadu government’s move was also considered as a step to curtail Sasikala’s stronghold over Poes House’s which was the ultimate power center when Jayalalitha was in power.