The entire Tamil Nadu state is celebrating the hundredth birth anniversary of their former Chief Minister and founder of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) MG Ramachandran today. The Tamil Nadu government had already announced that it will be a public holiday in the state on MGR’s birth centenary.
A huge crowd of MGR followers gathered at his memorial at the Marina Beach in Chennai to celebrate the eve. Along with the leaders and ministers from AIADMK, former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa’s niece Deepa Jayakumar was also present in the event.
Earlier, on January 16, the TN assembly’s opposition party chief MK Stalin also remembered MGR and extended his greetings on his hundredth birthday. He described despite being political opponents, how close friends MGR and his father MK Karunanidhi were. He said,”We cannot forget MGR chiding people who called Thalaivar (Karunanidhi) by name. MGR had a special affection for me. He enthused me when I acted in DMK’s propaganda dramas.”
Chennai: People gather at MG Ramachandran’s memorial at Marina Beach on his 100th birth anniversary pic.twitter.com/uW9w2LXmdL
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 17, 2017
Chennai: AIADMK workers incl supporters of Deepa Jayakumar(niece of Jayalalithaa) gather at MGR’s memorial on his 100th birth anniversary pic.twitter.com/miFa6u32oM
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 17, 2017
Super rated actor turned politician MG Ramachandran founded his party AIADMK after a feud with DMK chief M Karunanidhi in 1972. He served as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 1977 and 1987.
Earlier on January 14, the TN government had declared MGR’s birth centenary on January 17 as a public holiday for the entire state. The announcement was made on January 14 by the party Chief Secretary Girija Vaithiyanathan under the Negotiable Instruments Act.
Party general secretary Sasikala Natrajan had already said that MGR’s birth centenary would be celebrated in an appropriate manner. She will garland MGR’s statue and will participate in the centenary celebrations.
On January 6, TN chief minister O Pannerselvam had asked the center to issue commemorative coin and special postal stamp for former chief minister MG Ramachandran on his birth centenary.
In a letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, TN chief minister O Pannerselvam described AIADMK founder as an “inspirational figure” who is known for his “commanding leadership, generosity, and his will to fight for the legitimate rights of the states”.
