NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI/COIMBATORE, JAN 17
Rich tributes were paid to ruling AIADMK founder and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Puratchi Thalaivar M G Ramachandran as he was remembered on his 104th birth anniversary on Sunday by leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Bharat Ratna MGR lives in the hearts of several people. Be it the world of films or politics, he was widely respected. During his CM tenures, he initiated numerous efforts towards poverty alleviation and also emphasised on women empowerment. Tributes to MGR on his Jayanti.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 17, 2021
“Bharat Ratna MGR lives in the hearts of several people. Be it the world of films or politics, he was widely respected,” Modi tweeted.
“During his CM tenures, he initiated numerous efforts towards poverty alleviation and also emphasised on women empowerment. Tributes to MGR on his Jayanti,” the prime minister said.
Leading the birth anniversary celebrations in the state, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said the late leader slogged for the welfare of the people and devised many schemes for the benefit of poor and ordinary people.
மக்களுக்காகவே வாழ்ந்து மறைந்த ஒப்பற்ற தலைவர் புரட்சித்தலைவர் MGR அவர்களது 104வது பிறந்தநாளை முன்னிட்டு சென்னை, கிண்டி, தமிழ்நாடு டாக்டர் MGR மருத்துவ பல்கலைக்கழக வளாகத்திலுள்ள புரட்சித்தலைவர் MGR அவர்களது திருவருவச் சிலை, திருவுருவப் படத்திற்கு மரியாதை செலுத்தினேன். pic.twitter.com/5vSHxVkxkJ
— CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) January 17, 2021
Deputy Chief Minister O Panneersevlam, showering encomiums on MGR, said the former Chief Minister lived in the hearts of the people.
Panneerselvam and Palaniswami, coordinator and co-coordinator of AIADMK respectively visited the party headquarters here and garlanded the statue of MGR and hoisted the party flag. The two top party leaders distributed sweets to the cadres on the occasion.
Also Read:
MGR birthday gift: Passengers rejoice as Chennai Central-Kevadiya weekly train makes maiden journey
AIADMK functionaries organised functions in several places of the state and paid floral tributes to the late leader.
Welfare assistance was distributed and mass feeding programmes were organised by partymen across the state.
In New Delhi, AIADMK Rajya Sabha member A Vijayakumar garlanded the statue of MGR in the Parliament premises, a party release said.
Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan, who latched on to the late leader’s welfare legacy in his ongoing poll propaganda and Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary TTV Dhinakaran among the others paid floral tributes to a statue of the leader here.
In Tamil Nadu, Assembly elections are due during April-May this year.
M G Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu between 1977 and 87. He joined the DMK in the early 1950s inspired by its founder C N Annadurai and propagated the party ideology in his films.
A superstar and colossus of the Tamil film world, MGR founded the AIADMK in 1972 following differences with then party top leader and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.
Born on January 17, 1917, MGR died on December 24, 1987.
Rekhla race held in Coimbatore
About 400 pairs of bulls on Sunday participated in the rekhla race organised here as part of the 104th birth anniversary celebrations of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR.
The race was organised by the MGR youth wing also as a part of Pongal celebrations in which state Municipal Administration Minister S P Velumani participated and presented prizes, party sources said. The races were held for 200 metres and 300 metres with adherence to COVID-19 norms.
The winner was awarded a car and the runner-up a motorcycle while 100 consolation prizes were given, the sources said. The participants were from Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode, Sathyamangalam and Gobichettipalayam.
