Jayalalithaa disproportionate assets case: AIADMK workers hopeful of positive outcome

Protests continued in Puducherry

AIADMK workers are awaiting with bated breath as a Karnataka High Court is all set to hear the bail plea of party chief Jayalalithaa tomorrow even as protests continued in Tamil Nadu against her conviction in the disproportionate assets case.

AIADMK workers and Jayalalithaa supporters, including state ministers, MPs and MLAs continued their protests and fasts in various parts of the state for the release of Jayalalithaa, who is presently in a prison at Bangalore, after a Special Court there sentenced her to four years imprisonment in the case on September 27. Tamil Nadu Omni Bus Owners Association today announced that about 1,500 omni buses would keep off the roads in the state tomorrow "to show solidarity" with Jayalalithaa.

"The owners, members, drivers and employees of Tamil Nadu Omni Bus Owners Association will observe a fast and stop operation of buses," D Maran, Treasurer, Tamil Nadu Omni Bus Owners Association said. Buses would not be operated betweeen 10 am and 5 pm and fasts would be observed in all the 32 district headquarters, he added. In Coimbatore and Nilgiris districts, tourists suffered without proper food and beverages today, following a bandh observed in these districts.

Since a one-day bandh was observed in Udhagamandalam, Coonoor, Gudalur and Kothagiri - the major tourist spots in Nilgiris district, tourists from different parts of the country, especially for the long Puja holidays were affected, as they were stranded without proper food with all the hotels, eateries and bakeries downing shutters, police said. Meanwhile, a fast was observed at Kuniyamuthur in Coimbatore in which some 500 AIADMK youth wing members participated, while about 100 persons observed fast near Ukkadam bus-stand in support of the demand for early release of the former chief minister, they said.

Federation of Coimbatore Private Self-Financing Colleges have announced a holiday for 170 colleges tomorrow to express solidarity with the demand for Jayalalithaa's release. Protests continued in the Union Territory of Puducherry too, as AIADMK legislators, joined by various wings of the party observed a 12-hour-fast led by Om Sakthi Segar, MLA.

Deputy Legislature party leader A Anbalagan said the conviction of Jayalalithaa in the case was "unfair and unjust and a clear proof of joint conspiracy by BJP, Congress and DMK against her increasing popularity and towering stature".