Late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s Veda Nilayam residence, converted into a memorial by the government was declared open by Chief Minister K Palaniswami. Unveiling a life size statue of Jayalalithaa, Palaniswami announced that the late leader’s birth anniversary on February 24 would be observed as a state event to honour her.
Palaniswami along with his cabinet colleagues, including Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal unveiled a plaque that declared the Veda Nilayam residence a memorial in her honour and paid floral tributes to a portrait of Jayalalithaa.
The Veda Nilayam premises is still out of bounds for the public in view of a Madras High Court order on petitions by Deepak and Deepa, nephew and niece of Jayalalithaa challenging notification for acquiring her aunt’s house to convert it into a memorial and the award passed by the Land Acquisition Officer. The government has moved an appeal challenging the single judge’s interim order and the petition is expected to be heard on Friday.
‘Veda Nilayam’ at number 81, in upscale Poes Garden is spread over 24,322 square feet and has a landscaped garden. The building comprises office room, library, waiting room for guests, conference hall and the premises has been cleaned up and painted.
The Madras High Court allowed the government to go ahead with the opening ceremony but ordered that the building shall not be open to the public.
