Responding to queries from the media as to why Modi did not take part in the function if there is no controversy in the unveiling of the portrait on February 12, Jayakumar said, “Does Stalin know if we have invited the Prime Minister or President? He is talking as if we have invited the PM and Governor to the ceremony and they had turned down our invitation. We know whom to invite and whom not to invite. Stalin should not teach us about it.” 

Significantly, Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami on May 24 last year had told the media after a meeting with Modi that he had invited the Prime Minister for the function. Besides, Deputy Lok Sabha leader M Thambidurai too issued a statement asking why the BJP leaders had not taken part in the function. RK Nagar legislator TTV Dinakaran had alleged that the function was conducted hastily without the participation of national leaders as the government feared that they would not survive for long. When asked about the invitation to Modi for the portrait unveiling function eight months ago, an AIADMK leader said, “Our minister is only saying that Prime Minister was not invited for the portrait unveiling function on February 12. He had already said there is a chance of the Prime Minister taking part in the inauguration of Jayalalithaa memorial on the Marina.”