Anti-Kannadiga posters pop up in Chennai as Jayalalithaa’s bail plea hearing starts

The Karnataka high court on Tuesday started hearing arguments in the bail plea of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa in the 18-year-old disproportionate assets case against her.

Special public prosecutor G Bhavani Singh argued that Jayalalithaa is an influential person in Tamil Nadu and if granted bail she may try to escape from conviction or abscond from the country.

Senior lawyer Ram Jethmalani refuted Singh’s argument saying the former Tamil Nadu CM is a law abiding citizen and will not abscond.

Jethmalani said Jayalalithaa is entitled to a bail during the pendency of appeal against conviction as per verdicts of the Supreme Court on the subject of grant of bail after conviction.

Jayalalithaa had not indulged in any acts that warranted cancellation of her bail during the pendency of trial, Jethmalani said.

He pointed out that former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad Yadav too was released on bail by the apex court after he was convicted in the fodder scam.

As supporters of Jayalalithaa waited with bated breath for the court to pronounce its judgement, police in Bangalore have imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 around the court premises to prevent any untoward incidents.Anti-Kannadiga poster
A poster threatening Kannadigas living in Tamil Nadu if the convicted party supremo Jayalalithaa was not released from jail created a controversy.

“Warning… immediately release people’s chief minister Amma… otherwise we will hold Kannadigas living in Tamil Nadu as hostages,” the huge poster put up in certain locations in south Chennai said.

The AIADMK, however, has distanced itself from the posters and said it will discipline the person who did it for cheap publicity.

The poster has the names of social welfare minister B Valarmathi, Tiruchy Lok Sabha MP, P Kumar, VP Kalairajan, MLA and a party functionary Thousand Lights KC Vijay.

AIADMK south Chennai (North) district party secretary VP Kalairajan claimed, “This has been done by an expelled functionary KC Vijay. This was done without our knowledge”.

Kalairajan said the party has ordered the immediate removal of posters in locations wherever it was put up.

“We are guided by people’s chief minister Amma’s lofty ideals to serve people without any discrimination. The Tamil Nadu government is committed to the welfare of all sections of people.”

Bangalore police commissioner MN Reddy spoke to his Chennai counterpart about the poster and was assured that Kannadigas in Tamil Nadu are safe.

Chennai Police have removed it and promised to take action against “miscreants”.