Depicting Jaya as a goddess draws wrath from Hindu outfits

Chennai, Feb 23 (UNI) Attempts by overzealous volunteers of the ruling AIADMK to demonstrate their devotion to party supremo and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa by depicting her as a Goddess in posters has raised the hackles of Hindu outfits in Tamil Nadu.

With the AIADMK supremo's 58th birthday falling tomorrow, a couple of months ahead of the Assembly polls, party functionaries, particularly those aspiring to contest the elections, are vying with one other to greet her in a novel way to seek her 'grace'.

'Drawing divine inspiration', some volunteers depicted her as a Goddess in huge posters and banners, which annoyed Hindu activists.

An enterprising ex-MLA at Vridhachalam in Cuddalore district put up a huge banner, measuring 58 ft in length, to coincide with her birthday, depicting as Goddess Annapurani (bestowing annam or rice).

Located at a prime location in the town, the banner showed the AIADMK supremo decked in gold and seated in the 'padmasana' posture holding a golden bowl and a ladle.

The banner, which got wide publicity in the local media, evoked strong condemnation from the Federation of Hindu Organisations (FHO).

FHO State Organising Secretary 'Vinayagar' V Murali charged in a statement that the AIADMK was attempting to deceive people with religious beliefs and garner their votes by putting up such banners.

The act amounted to bringing religion into politics, he said and added that the oufit had petitioned the Election Commission about the violation. The Federation would take legal action, he added.

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