Protests and fasts continued in Tamil Nadu on Sunday over jailing of AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa in the illegal assets case with bus services being suspended in many districts and a private schools’ federation announcing that their schools would remain closed on 7 October.
Officials said passengers were affected as over 6,000 private buses suspended their services in the state, barring three districts, protesting the conviction of Jayalalithaa by a Special Court at Bangalore on 27 September.
Responding to the call given by the Federation of Bus Operators’ Association of Tamil Nadu, private bus services were suspended in all districts, barring Chennai, Nilgiris and Kanyakumari. Inter-district, intra-district and private buses plying inside towns were part of the strike, officials said.
Protests by AIADMK workers and Jayalalithaa supporters continued with some of them conducting special prayers in temples for the speedy release of their leader.
AIADMK legislators and Chennai Mayor S Duraisamy wore black shirts and observed a fast at the memorial of party founder MG Ramachandran (MGR) at the Marina beach.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Associations of Private Schools in Tamil Nadu announced that private schools across the state would remain closed on 7 October.
Over 4,500 private schools would not function, DC Elangovan, Secretary, Federation of Associations of Private Schools in Tamil Nadu, said in Salem.