Niece seeks AIADMK cadres' help to stake claim to J Jayalalithaa's house in Chennai

CHENNAI: J Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar has opposed the Tamil Nadu government's ordinance to take over the late chief minister's residence 'Veda Nilayam' at Poes Garden in Chennai and sought the support of AIADMK cadres to stop the move.
Talking to TOI on Saturday, she wondered why the government was attempting to convert 'Veda Nilayam' into a memorial, when one was being constructed on the Marina. "Nobody is aware what is available inside 'Veda Nilayam' and it would be justice on part of the government to hand over the property to the legal heirs, who are my brother and I. We will maintain it very well," she said. Pointing out that the issue is sub-judice, Jayalalithaa's niece asked, "What is the urgency to promulgate an ordinance when the country is crippled by the coronavirus crisis."
In a strongly worded statement later, she appealed to AIADMK cadres to "Help me to fight for my legitimate rights and get us our 'Veda Nilayam' house back and ensure that nobody, Edappadi K Palaniswami or O Paneerselvam or any bureaucrat, touches a single stone or any object in the house that belonged to my aunt."
Jayalalithaa's clothes, jewellery, books, furniture, valuables and cars at Poes Garden should be kept intact until the legal heirs are allowed to inspect the house with a court order, Deepa Jayakumar said.
Her remarks come a day after governor Banwarilal Purohit promulgated an ordinance to temporarily take possession of 'Veda Nilayam' and movable items, besides establishing a foundation to convert the house into a memorial. While the chief minister would be chairperson of the foundation, the deputy chief minister and minister for information would its members. "I am also filing a petition to the governor soon to consider our hardships and hand over possession of Jayalalithaa's property to legal heirs," she said. Deepa Jayakumar's father was Jayalalithaa brother.