Jayalalithaa supported protest against demonetisation: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who on Tuesday penned a personal tribute to J. Jayalalithaa, claimed her late Tamil Nadu counterpart supported Trinamool Congress's movement against demonetisation.

Banerjee, also the Trinamool supremo, heaped praises on the colossus of TN politics for being "a strong female politician".

"I can't resist sharing a piece of information with you all. Jaya Ji was hospitalised when the demonetisation announcement was made. AIADMK's Parliamentary Party leader and the present Deputy Speaker, M. Thambidurai, in personal conversations with Trinamool's Parliamentary Party leader in the Lok Sabha, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, a few days back, said that Mamata's movement against demonetisation is the right way."

"Jaya Ji's party, in this way, supported our movement against demonetisation," Banerjee said in a signed article in the Bengali daily Anandabazar Patrika.

In the English version of the letter, carried by her party's website, the tribute quoted Mamata as saying: "M. Thambidurai, in personal conversations with Trinamool's Parliamentary Party leader in the Lok Sabha, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, a few days back, said that Jaya Ji supported our movement against demonetisation."

Banerjee said Jayalalithaa's death has "ripped our heart". She drew parallels with her own political career.

"I understand how fighting against all odds feels like. I have been facing a volley of abuses and conspiracies myself for some time now. Jaya Ji's struggle is somewhat similar. She emerged a winner solely because of her political wisdom, administrative expertise and strength of character. History will always remember her as a strong female politician," she added.

The West Bengal government on Tuesday declared a day of mourning as a mark of respect to Jayalalithaa.

--IANS

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