Chennai: Tamil Nadu will “sorely miss” J. Jayalalithaa and her guidance, but the AIADMK Government is committed to ensure that the policy goals and objectives laid down by her are fulfilled, Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam told Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he demanded that Bharat Ratna be conferred on the late Chief Minister.
Meeting the Prime Minister at his official residence in New Delhi, Mr Pannerselvam spoke to him at length how himself, the AIADMK, and Tamil Nadu would miss late Jayalalithaa and thanked him for flying down to Chennai to pay last respects to her.
“The Chief Minister thanked the Prime Minister for meeting him at short notice...The Chief Minister thanked the Prime Minister for his presence at Chennai on 6th December to pay last respects to the late Chief Minister Puratchi Thalaivi Amma who was one of the most influential leaders of our time and stated that this gesture of the Prime Minister in Tamil Nadu's hour of grief was a great consolation,” a press release from the Chief Minister's Office said.
“The Chief Minister stated that while Tamil Nadu will sorely miss Puratchi Thalaivi Amma's leadership and guidance, the State Government is committed to ensure that the policy goals and objectives laid down by late Chief Minister Puratchi Thalaivi Amma are fulfilled,” the release said.
Noting that late Jayalalithaa represented hopes and aspirations of millions of people of Tamil Nadu had an appeal that extended beyond Tamil Nadu, Mr Pannerselvam said she “richly deserves the nation's highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna and it would be a fitting tribute to the great leader.” He also demanded that Jayalalithaa's full size bronze statue be installed in the Parliament House.
The first Cabinet meeting chaired by Mr Panneerselvam on December 10 had adopted a resolution regarding the demands. “The Prime Minister assured the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu of early action on the issues raised in the two Memoranda presented by the Chief Minister and the request made for conferring the Bharat Ratna on the late Chief Minister Selvi J. Jayalalithaa,” the press release said.
