Modi pays homage to Jaya at Rajaji Hall; tributes pour in from all corners

Chennai: Cries of "Amma" rent the air as a sea of humanity thronged the Rajaji Hall grounds Tuesday to pay their last respects to AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, whose body lay in state in Chennai where normal life virtually came to a grinding halt.

As tributes poured in from far and wide after the actress-turned-politician's death last night, the body of Jayalalithaa, which was draped in her favourite green colour saree, was taken from her Poes Garden residence early this morning to Rajaji Hall where tens of thousands of people queued up to have a last glimpse of their 'Puratchi Thalaivi Amma' (Revolutionary Leader Amma).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among scores of political leaders who reached Chennai to pay tributes to the 68-year-old AIADMK chief.

As the casket carrying the body of six-time chief minister was placed on the steps of Rajaji Hall, in the heart of the city off arterial Anna Salai, four Army men covered it with the national Tricolour.

Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and his ministerial colleagues, MPs and MLAs and senior state government officials were among the first to pay homage to Jayalalithaa, who passed away at the Apollo Hospitals here at 11.30 last night after waging a grim battle for life since her hospitalisation on September 22.

Jayalithaa's long time confidante Sasikala Natarajan stood close to the casket. Security has been beefed up at the venue where people lined up to bid a tearful adieu to their 'Amma' (mother) as Jayalithaa was fondly called.

Cries of "Amma" rent the air as the public filed past taking a last glimpse of their beloved leader from a distance away from the stairs, where the Tamil Nadu Ministers were seen seated.

• Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi reaches Chennai to pay his last respects to Jayalalithaa.

• Clad in white, an emotional Modi, who enjoyed a good personal equation with the late AIADMK leader, consoled Chief Minister O Panneerselvam who broke down. Modi also spoke to Jayalalithaa's close confidante Sasikala.

• Modi left the Hall after paying tribute to the deceased CM.

• Narendra Modi arrived in Chennai to pay floral tributes to Jayalalithaa at Rajaji Hall. The PM was received at the airport by Governor CH Vidyasagar Rao.
• Indian Air Force plane carrying President Pranab Mukherjee to Chennai, returns to Delhi after developing technical snag mid-air.
• Centre to accord state funeral to Jayalalithaa.
• Karnataka, Kerala, Uttarakhand and Bihar declare one-day state mourning as a mark of respect to Jayalalithaa.
• Centre declares state mourning today. National flag on all government buildings to be flown at half-mast.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Pranab Mukherjee, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will visit Chennai to pay tributes to Jayalalithaa.
• Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu pays tribute to Jayalalithaa.

It may be recalled that the bodies of former Chief Minister K Kamaraj and her mentor M G Ramachandran were kept at the same venue for public viewing.

Jayalalithaa's body was first taken to her Poes Garden residence in the early hours and then brought to the Rajaji Hall.

The funeral will take place at 4.30 pm at the Dr MGR Memorial site off Marina beach, the state government said in an official communication.

All roads leading to Rajaji Hall grounds were bustling with crowds of people who did not mind taking a long walk with public transport, barring trains, remaining off the roads.

After Jayalalithaa's body was brought to the Rajaji Hall, the crowd could be seen swelling by the minute and the heavy posse of police personnel deployed there were finding it very difficult to control them. Emotional scenes were witnessed as several women were seen wailing and thumping their chests.

The Centre declared a one-day state mourning today in view of the demise of Jayalalithaa. National flag on all government buildings across the country was flown at half-mast.

Public transport services, including autorickshaws, were off the roads while some private vehicles were seen plying in various parts of the city where police personnel kept a tight vigil at vantage points.

A near total shutdown like situation prevailed in the city and several other parts of the state since last evening itself.