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A 67 kilogram cake, special poojas and a slew of welfare activities marked the 67th birthday of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham supremo J Jayalalithaa, who was greeted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Birthday greetings to Jayalalithaa ji. May she be blessed with a long life, filled with good health,” Modi tweeted.
Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah also greeted the former chief minister wishing her a long life and good health. Rosaiah sent a flower bouquet and in his message hailed her ‘leadership skills’ and ‘commitment for people’, an AIADMK release said.
“He wished her all success in her service to the people and wished good health and happiness,” it added.
Jayalalithaa, who is out on bail after being sentenced to four year in jail in a graft case by a Bengaluru special court, had a quite day. The party headquarters at Royapettah wore a festive look with cabinet ministers including Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and other supporters thronging it.
A 67 kg cake, denoting the age of the ‘Puratchi Thalaivi’, a revolutionary leader as she is addressed by partymen, was cut at the party headquarters by Social Welfare Minister P Valarmathi and sweets were distributed.
A souvenir was also released on the occasion.
The AIADMK government launched a sapling plantation drive, which coincided with Jayalalithaa’s birthday. Chief Minister Panneeselvam planted the first sapling at Marundeeswarar Temple in Thiruvanmiyur.
A state government release said that drought-resistant varieties will be planted and the initiative will be completed by December this year.
It was a practice of Jayalalithaa to launch such a sapling plantation drive as CM, with programmes scheduled just a few days ahead of her birthday. She herself had initiated programmes to plant 64 lakh, 65 lakh and 66 lakh saplings in 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively.
The Rs 52.72-crore effort was being continued as it was well received by people, the release said adding 2,09,375 saplings will be planted in each of the 32 districts in the state.
Special prayers at religious places were conducted for the former CM’s acquittal in the asset case, while mass marriages and welfare activities marked the day for her supporters.
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