This Article is From Oct 07, 2014

On Day of Her Bail Plea, Sportspersons Demand Release of Jayalalithaa

On Day of Her Bail Plea, Sportspersons Demand Release of Jayalalithaa

Nearly a hundred sportspersons participated in the protest.

Chennai: Nearly a hundred sportspersons, including a few Olympians, have assembled in Chennai to demand the release of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, just hours before the Karnataka High Court is scheduled to take up her bail plea.

A court in Bangalore had found Ms Jayalalithaa guilty in a disproportionate assets case on September 27 and sentenced her to jail for four years.

Former Olympian and captain of the Indian Hockey team Mr V Baskaran says the protest would not amount to contempt of court. He adds, "She was the Chief Minister of Sports. We are merely expressing out solidarity. We want her back as Chief Minister".

Many of the participating sports-persons were rewarded by Jayalalithaa -- while she was in power and even when she was in the opposition -- for their performance. They claim they are not being exploited or used by the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu in support of the convicted leader.

Former captain of the women's basketball team Prasanna says "We are not being used. Jayalalithaa built many stadiums and many players have benefited. We want her back".

The players have also launched a signature campaign.

The organiser of the campaign Raj Sathyan is the secretary of the Rugby Football Union in the state; his father is a leader of the Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK and the Mayor of Madurai city.

He claims that this is not an attempt to mount pressure on the court.

"Sportspersons can never be pressured. We don't do that. They come on their own to stand with Amma at this tough time," said Mr Sathyan.

Over the last week, actors, authorities of some schools and even bus operators had protested the AIADMK leader's conviction. They have denied that they did so under pressure from the ruling regime. The public perception, however, is otherwise. 
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