Chennai: Various associations of the Tamil film industry began a silent fast before the Chepauk Government Guest House on Tuesday to condemn the conviction of J. Jayalalithaa in the disproportionate wealth case.
Veteran PRO Radha Kannan received an anonymous call about a bomb threat near the venue of the fast, which turned out to be a hoax. But he had to be admitted in hospital for shock. “It was an unknown number and the person used abusive language,” Radha Kannan said. “I informed the police immediately.”
Several film personalities, including Sarath Kumar, T. Shiva, Thaanu, Kunjumon, Ramarajan, Vikraman, J.K. Riteesh, R.K. Selvamani, Bala, Deva, Manobala, Bhagyaraj, Suriya, Karthi, Vikram, Sivakarthikeyan, Prabbu, Vikram Prabhu, Srikanth, Sathyaraj, Vemal, Soori, S.J. Suryah and others took part in the protest fast.
Veteran actor S.S. Rajendhran broke the fast at 5 pm by offering fruit juice to everyone. None of the leading actors and actresses from K’town such as Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Vijay, Ajith, Simbhu and Dhanush, were present on the occasion.
Nadigar Sangham sources said that since the protest was organised at short notice, some of them, like Rajini, who had a prior commitment in Bengaluru, Vijay, Dhanush and Vishal who were shooting at various locations, and Kamal, who was unwell, could not be there to express their solidarity with the cause.
No let-up in protests: AIADMK men continued with their protests holding fasts and agitations in Chennai, Salem, Tiruchy, Cuddalore, Coimbatore and Kancheepuram. No untoward incident was reported.
Protesters hailed Jayalalithaa as “people’s CM” and shouted slogans saying she would emerge triumphant. An AIADMK member climbed atop a 100 feet mobile phone tower and threatened to jump to death while another functionary attempted self-immolation bid in Salem.
