Memorial modelled on phoenix to honour 'comeback queen' Jaya

Symbolising her grit and political come backs, a mega memorial modelled on a phoenix will be built off the famous Marina Beach here to honour late Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa, the foundation for which was laid today.

Signalling the formal start of the work, Chief Minister K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam laid the foundation stone for the Rs 50 crore memorial, abutting her burial site on the Marina beach front.

The memorial, modelled on a phoenix, with two lion statues at the entrance and surrounded by landscaped gardens will house the mausoleum of Jayalalithaa, who died on December 5, 2016.

Phoenix is a mythological bird that dies in a fire of its own making only to rise again from the ashes.

Jayalalithaa, a five-time chief minister, had staged remarkable comebacks after she had to quit office twice over corruption cases.

Beside the memorial, a museum and a knowledge park is set to come up and both the structures -- as reflected in artistic impressions released by the state government today -- feature state-of-the-art designs, lighting and aesthetics.

An official release said the complex will feature fountains in the landscaped garden, and granite paved walkways.

Palaniswami placed the first brick for the construction on the ground, and Panneerselvam the second.

A 'yagna' and special prayers were conducted ahead of the stone-laying event in which Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai, state Ministers, MPs and MLAs participated along with the chief minister and his deputy.

Panneerselvam had on March 15 said the memorial would be built at a cost of Rs 50 crore.

Jayalalithaa's mausoleum, covered by makeshift sheets, was decked up for the event in which a large number of AIADMK workers also took part.

The proposed memorial is set to come up behind the memorial of Jayalalithaa's mentor and AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran.

Elaborate security arrangements were made for the stone-laying ceremony, held weeks came after the Madras High Court dismissed public interest litigation petitions opposing the construction of a memorial for her.

Petitions against display of her portraits in the state government offices were also dismissed.

The memorial initiative, however, came in for sharp criticism from the opposition parties.

DMK leader M K Stalin said it was "anti-democratic" to build a memorial to a person (Jayalalithaa) "convicted" in the disproportionate assets case.

Echoing a similar view, PMK founder leader S Ramadoss said constructing memorial to the late chief minister was tantamount to "crowning graft" and hence the government should not build it using the tax payers money.