Chennai: Sporting an immaculate white T-shirt and white trousers as he was, many would have mistaken him for any other volunteer who was determined to clean the place. Sunday saw the Union Minister of State for Finance and Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan, who is invariably seen in a white shirt and dhoti, donned a new avatar, wielding the broom to clean the place beside administering a pledge to all the participants.
While Ponnar also inaugurated a blood donation camp at the Asaripallam government hospital in Nagercoil during which 67 persons donated blood to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 67th birthday, his ministerial colleagues: Piyush Goyal (Railways & Coal) and Manoj Sinha (Communications) painted the walls, cleared out the garbage and planted saplings to mark the occasion in Chennai.
The string of social service activities was organised in various parts of the state by the Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP, which observed the PM’s birthday as Seva Diwas.
Party president Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan visited Sri Meenakshi Amman temple in Madurai and offered prayers wishing for long and healthy life for PM Narendra Modi on his 67th birthday. She later returned to the city to join the cleaning campaign with the two Union Ministers. Mr Sinha later launched the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign at Rajiv Gandhi Telecom Training Centre here.
An opportunity to serve the people, says Goyal: Claiming the occasion provided the BJP with an opportunity to serve the society with the participation of everyone in the society, Mr Goyal said the medical camps, sapling planting and cleaning campaign demonstrated that the party and people could all work together and build a new India. “Through people’s participation facilities could be made available and the neighbourhood transformed into a clean and environmentally friendly space,” he said. About 500 patients benefited from this medical camp here, he added.
He expressed the hope that the TN BJP would continue to be connected with the people in the State, and strive for a better quality of life for the people. “Service is above self and service is the only way which you can truly serve our fellow citizens,” Mr Goyal advised while complimenting Dr Tamilisai and the BJP unit for their efforts. The Minister further said that the Government under Mr Modi was working hard to provide housing for all, ensure the construction of toilets, 24-hours electricity, good quality education and drinking water by 2022.
Guv, CM greet Modi on his birthday
The Tamil Nadu Governor CH. Vidyasagar Rao, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and several leaders greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of his 67th birthday on Sunday.
“Please accept my heartiest greetings and best wishes on your birthday. Our dynamism, pragmatic approach, effective planning towards the welfare of the people and the nation have placed India on the global map. Your vision and mission to revive and strengthen the spirit of skill development and ‘Make in India’ have opened new vistas in the global market,” the Governor said in his message. According to a communiqué from the Raj Bhavan, the Governor said, “I pray to Almighty to bless you with a long, happy and healthy life in your distinguished service to the people and to the nation.”
In his greeting, the Chief Minister said “on the joyous occasion of your birthday, I would like to convey my warm felicitations and wishes to you for a wonderful year ahead. I pray that the Almighty may grant you many more years of good health and strength to serve our Nation and the people.”
DMK Working President M. K. Stalin greeted the PM on behalf of party chief M. Karunanidhi, DMK and on his own behalf. Mr. Stalin tweeted “Birthday greetings to the Prime Minister Thiru @narendramodi ji on behalf of Dr @kalaignar89, DMK and I. Wish you a long and healthy life.”
