Followers of Jayalalithaa condemn Annamalai for his remarks stating the AIADMK leader as Hindutva leader

CHENNAI: Cutting across political affiliations, the followers of late AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa put up a united face, condeming the state BJP president K Annamalai for his remarks that the former TN CM was a "Hindutva leader". Jayalalithaa's close aide and ousted AIADMK leader V K Sasikala termed the developments as ignorance of the BJP leader. "Amma Jayalalithaa had always been a Dravidian leader and one should not narrow down her legacy within the scope of Hindutva," V K Sasikala said in a statement.  

AIADMK organising secretary and former fisheries minister D Jayakumar also charged the state BJP president Anamalai for portraying the late leader as a representative of a single religion. 

The statement from the AIADMK leader came against the backdrop of recent Annamalai's interaction with a news agency that the AIADMK has "switched the route" from the "Hindutva ideology" after the demise of the Jayalalithaa.

"If you look at it, till Jayalalithaa ji was alive, she was a far superior Hindutva leader than anybody in Tamil Nadu. Pre-2014, when you have a party like the BJP and Jayalalithaa as a leader the natural choice of a Hindu voter would be Jayalalithaa, who displayed her Hindu identity openly," he told the news agency.

However, Jayakumar said "Amma" (Jayalalithaa) had loved and respected all religions and she also ensured that equal rights were given to all sections of society. "However, he (Annamalai) was projecting "Amma" as a leader for only Hindu community, which cannot be accepted."

Stating that when the AIADMK was under the leadership of Jayalalithaa, the AIADMK leader pointed out that it is the then AIADMK chief minister who had introduced "Annadhana Thittam" (mass food feeding). "However, Amma also allocated Rs 3 crore in 2001 for the supply of rice during Ramadan season for Muslim community", he said, adding "similarly, Amma also introduced a scheme which will help the Christian community to take free religious trips to Jerusalem.". 

Joining the chorus, V Pughazenthi, a supporter of O Panneerselvam, who is now in alliance with the BJP stayed away from the views of Annamalai. "In our views, Amma was a Hindu who never subscribed Hindutva. Amma always spoke about the Dravidian leaders like MGR, Periyar and Arignar Anna, Pughazenthi told media, when asked for comments.