Jayalalithaa's AIADMK poster threatening Kannadigas creates tension

A wall poster put out by an expelled AIADMK party man here threatening Kannadigas living in Tamil Nadu if the convicted party supremo Jayalalithaa was not released from jail created a flutter and the party sought to distance from the row.

The party said the poster was put on display without its sanction and stressed that it stood committed to the welfare for all sections of people, a party functionary said here.

"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 today.

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."

Meanwhile, protests and human chains expressing solidarity with Jayalalithaa who has been sent to jail in an illegal wealth case continued across Tamil Nadu.

The stage artists association members formed a human chain here. Artists who worked in the make up team of late chief minister and AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran who was also an iconic actor of yesteryears lined up streets holding placards seeking her release.

All faith prayers seeking her early release are also being held across Tamil Nadu.

An estimated 1.5 lakh powerlooms in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts did not function today with the workers, who run them, abstaining from work to express solidarity with Jayalalithaa.

The production loss due to the one-day stoppage was estimated to be around Rs.45 crore in the districts, the major power loom centres in the state, according to Coimbatore District Powerloom Job Workers Association.

However, some units in Palladam in Tirupur District did not join the strike, called by Tamil Nadu Power Loom Federation, police said.