Chennai: As several lakhs of people observed Hanumath Jayanthi on Saturday, the Lord’s name was on the lips of ruling AIADMK legislator I. S. Inbadurai for a different reason - a polytechnic college at Valliyur in his Radhapuram constituency (in southern district of Tirunelveli).
As the members raised many issues during the Question Hour session in the Assembly, Inbadurai appeared to find an opportunity to invoke the Lord’s blessings and also related His blessings from Sitadevi to the AIADMK’s Two Leaves symbol, much to the surprise of everyone particularly the opposition DMK.
“When Lord Hanuman sought the blessings of Sita when he met Her at Asokavanam in Lanka, She blessed Him with two betel leaves, and said it would bring Him victory. Although one is invariably blessed with a shower of flowers or ‘atchathai’ (turmeric laced rice), Sitadevi blessed Hanuman with the leaves, since only that was available,” he said while attempting to ask a supplementary question.
A piqued DMK MLA S. Pugazhenthi wanted to know if what Inbadurai is relating had anything to do with the supplementary question that he wanted to raise. Intervening, Speaker P. Dhanapal asked the member to be precise.
However, Mr. Inbadurai claimed that like Lord Hanuman, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has got the Two Leaves, apparently referring to AIADMK’s party symbol.
Schemes announced on Saturday will be “victorious,” as it is Hanuman Jayanthi, he said and urged that a polytechnic college be announced for Valliyur.
Higher Education Minister K. P. Anbazhagan replied, the plea would be looked into if the enrolment ratio is high in that region.
