Chennai, Feb 20: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa suffered injuries on her shoulder and hands when over-zealous partymen threw bouquets and flower pots inside her car here yesterday. The incident took place when Jayalalithaa stopped her car to receive bouquets from partymen lined up on both sides of the road, while returning after inaugurating a thoracic centre at suburban Ambattur.
Disclosing this, Jayalalithaa, in a statement here, said that she had lowered the windscreen on seeing partymen carrying bouquets, when the workers, vying with each other, literally threw the bouquets and flower pots on her.
Besides the injuries, the water and mud in the flower pots spilled all over her dress and the car, prompting her to ask the partymen whether this was necessary at all.
Pointing out that she was facing threats from terrorists and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Jayalalithaa exhorted partymen to avoid presenting her bouquets and flower pots.
The very practice of presenting bouquets posed serious threat to her security, she noted. ''What would happen if the terrorists and members of LTTE used such opportunity after disguising themselves as party workers and threw flower pots, hiding bombs in them?'' she asked.
It was following a warning by the Intelligence Bureau that the Centre had provided her 'Z' category security cover and deployed black cat commandos. In such a context, throwing of flower pots posed grave danger also to the security personnel.
Instead of spending money to buy bouquets and flower pots and shawls, party workers could give the money as election fund. ''If at all you want to give me something, give your love and affection,'' she said and advised them to avoid extravaganza. Bureau Report