Foundation stone for Jaya memorial laid in Chennai

Foundation stone for the memorial of the late chief minister J Jayalalithaa to be built at a cost of Rs 50 crore was laid on the Marina Beachfront in Chennai on Monday.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam laid the foundation stone and participated in a 'yagna' and special prayer ceremony on the occasion.

Palaniswami and Panneerselvam conducted the 'yagna' at the memorial site and placed the first and second bricks, respectively, marking the beginning of construction work.

Even as pictures of garlanded Palaniswami and Panneerselvam went viral on social media, the DMK accused the AIADMK government of converting the foundation laying event into a “Hindu ceremony.”

Since this is probably the first time in recent years that a religious ceremony preceded an official function, many an eyebrow was raised.

DMK working president M K Stalin tore into the government for constructing a memorial for a person “who went to jail on corruption charges.”

“Jayalalithaa went to jail on corruption charges and she was an accused in the disproportionate assets (DA) case. Those who are deep in corruption are constructing memorials for corruption convicts,” he said.

The memorial will house a knowledge park and mausoleum for the late chief minister. The design, named Phoenix, a bird that rises from its ashes, has been chosen from among several bids, sources said.

“The memorial will be completed within a year's time,” Palaniswami told reporters after the event.

The ceremony was attended by Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai and senior leaders, including ministers of the AIADMK government.

Jayalalithaa was buried according to the Dravidian customs though she was a theist. The AIADMK government, then headed by Panneerselvam, had decided to construct a memorial at her burial site.

Decks for construction of the memorial were cleared in March last year after the CMDA and Tamil Nadu State Coastal Zone Management Authority (TNSCZMA) approved the proposal.

The memorial will be constructed in accordance with the seismic factors applicable to the moderate intensity zone.