IANS/Chennai
Former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa yesterday said her public life was like swimming in a river of fire.
In a statement issued here a day after she was released from the Bangalore Central Jail on bail, Jayalalithaa said she knew the kind of difficulties that she would face in her public life.
The chief of Tamil Nadu’s ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam said she was not worried about the challenges and problems but would continue on the path of promoting people’s welfare.
“I have faced several challenges in my life. And I have come out of them successfully,” she added.
Urging her supporters not to commit suicide for her welfare, she said: “I request with love that nobody should resort to suicide.” Thanking all her supporters for holding special prayers, Jayalalithaa said such gestures have moved her.
She announced a compensation of Rs300,000 to the families of 193 people who died after hearing the problems faced by her and Rs50,000 to three people who tried to commit suicide.
Meanwhile, Tamil super star Rajinikanth and federal minister Maneka Gandhi expressed their happiness at Jayalalithaa’s return home.
“I am very glad to have you back in Poes Garden. Praying for good times for you. Always wishing you well for good health and peace,” Rajinikanth said in a letter to Jayalalithaa.
Rajinikanth is also a resident of the posh Poes Garden area.
In her letter to Jayalalithaa, Gandhi said: “This is just to let you know that I am deeply sorry that this has happened.”
Gandhi told Jayalalithaa that she has her support and sympathy and she would be happy to do anything to make this time less onerous.
“I am sure this time will be over soon and we will see you formally back at the helm of administration again,” Gandhi said.
A Bangalore court on September 27 convicted Jayalalithaa in the Rs660mn disproportionate assets case and sentenced her to four years in jail, and slapped a fine of Rs1bn under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
