Bengaluru/Chennai: “Madam doesn’t want to meet anyone,” is a one-line order from the AIADMK supremo and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa to the Central Prison authorities regarding her visitors in prison.
“She has maintained from day one of her conviction that she will not meet anyone and that she should not be disturbed,” said a senior prison officer. After refusing to meet her successor and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam who had come to meet her on Tuesday morning, Ms Jayalalithaa reportedly left the Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha and AIADMK leader M. Thambidurai and chairperson of TN Human Rights Commission Jayanthi waiting in vain for her in the prison. She didn’t meet them also. They waited in vain and left,” said the officer.
Meanwhile, additional director general of police and inspector general of prisons K.V. Gagandeep told this newspaper that Ms Jayalalithaa has not asked for any specialised medical treatment.
“She said she was comfortable in the prison and is happy with the doctors and nurses, who are attending on her and does not want to be shifted to a government hospital. She is taking prison food,” said the prison chief. According to some unconfirmed reports, her lawyers may appeal in the court to shift her to a Chennai prison.
Read: Was Jayalalithaa humiliated by Karnataka cops in court?
“They will wait for her bail and if it is further postponed they may appeal before the court to shift her to Chennai. But so far ‘Madam’ has not expressed any such desire nor given any direction to her lawyers,” said another officer on condition of anonymity.
Ms Jayalalithaa’s security and health are being monitored and reviewed by top police and prison officers on a daily basis.
On Wednesday morning, hundreds of ‘Amma’s’ supporters and fans gathered near the Central Prison at Parapanna Agrahara hoping that she might get bail from the high court but they left after the court postponed her bail plea till October 7.
No Dussehra celebrations this year
The Bengaluru verdict has taken away the Dussehra celebrations from the power corridors of Tamil Nadu.
The government offices, including the ministers’ chambers, wore a desolate appearance and there was no sign of the Ayudha Puja being celebrated. The Jaya TV has cancelled its special programmes on Thursday even as most AIADMK members have announced they would skip all celebrations at home, until the return of Amma.
Read: Jayalalithaa to remain in prison till October 7
“We will have no festivities until Amma comes back. I have asked our party councillors and other functionaries too to refrain from celebrations even at home,” said AIADMK legislator P. Vettrivel.
Senior bureaucrats too are being cautious about participating in office parties. Some senior officials who recently retired were given a send-off on Wednesday sans the usual merriment and backslapping.
