Jayalalithaa buried with full state honours

Lakhs of grieving men and women yesterday bid a tearful adieu to J Jayalalithaa, the charismatic Chief Minister who held sway over Tamil Nadu politics for more than three decades with a pro-poor image, as the AIADMK supremo was buried here with full state honours

Supporters at the funeral procession of Tamil Nadu’s former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa

Chennai: Lakhs of grieving men and women yesterday bid a tearful adieu to J Jayalalithaa, the charismatic Chief Minister who held sway over Tamil Nadu politics for more than three decades with a pro-poor image, as the AIADMK supremo was buried here with full state honours.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi consoles TNâÂu00c2u0080Âu00c2u0088Chief Minister O Panneerselvam while paying his last respects to Jayalalithaa

President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, his counterparts from several states, Governor Vidyasagar Rao, DMK leader M K Stalin and superstar Rajnikanth were among the dignitaries who paid homage at Rajaji Hall where the body of 68-year-old Jayalalithaa lay in state since early morning.

Mourners wait for a glimpse of Jayalalithaa during her funeral. Pics/PTI, AFP

Sasikala Natarajan, the close confidante of Jayalalithaa for over three decades, was beside the body throughout the day and later conducted the religious rituals before the sandalwood casket was lowered at a site close to MGR memorial on the shores of Marina beach.

No sooner had the brief rituals concluded at around 6 PM, the casket carrying the mortal remains of the five-time chief minister was lowered after a gun salute amid emotional chants of 'Amma Vazhga' (Long Live Amma) by a sea of humanity which had converged at the burial site.

Parliament adjourned
Both houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day yesterday soon after members paid tributes to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.

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