Late AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa’s name was generously invoked during the presentation of Tamil Nadu Budget on Friday by Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, saying she continues to be the “guiding beacon and a guardian” of the state government.
Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam
Chennai:
Panneerselvam, who holds the Finance portfolio, said his deceased mentor was an embodiment of greatness as mentioned in ‘Tirukkural.’
Citing a couplet from the ‘Tirukkural,’ penned by saint poet Thiruvalluvar, Panneerselvam said, “Only great persons endowed with noble qualities can achieve the zenith of perfection in the performance of great deeds.”
Jayalalithaa was an “embodiment of this couplet, who lived by her credo of ‘I am by the people and for the people,’ committing herself fully to the welfare of people and development of the state,” he said.
The treasury side thumped the benches when the Deputy Chief Minister hailed Jayalalithaa.
He further went on to say that the late chief minister was living in the hearts of people of Tamil Nadu ‘forever’ and that she was a catalyst of “our inner consciousness.”
“... an inspirational force to realise our potential, the late chief minister Puratchi Thalaivi Jayalalithaa continues to be our guiding beacon and a guardian of the good governance regime established by her perseverance,” he said.
The incumbent Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami was effectively following the path laid down by her, while “surmounting all challenges posed by adversaries,” he said.
Panneerselvam said he was presenting the budget after “revering her visionary and able leadership and seeking her blessings to continue to fulfil her great legacy.”
Earlier, the ruling AIADMK legislators accorded a grand welcome to Palaniswami and Panneerselvam by thumping their desks when they jointly entered the Assembly Hall to present the budget.
He also took her name before presenting the budget estimates for FY 2019-20.
Panneerselvam, who holds the Finance portfolio, said his deceased mentor was an embodiment of greatness as mentioned in ‘Tirukkural.’
Citing a couplet from the ‘Tirukkural,’ penned by saint poet Thiruvalluvar, Panneerselvam said, “Only great persons endowed with noble qualities can achieve the zenith of perfection in the performance of great deeds.”
Jayalalithaa was an “embodiment of this couplet, who lived by her credo of ‘I am by the people and for the people,’ committing herself fully to the welfare of people and development of the state,” he said.
The treasury side thumped the benches when the Deputy Chief Minister hailed Jayalalithaa.
He further went on to say that the late chief minister was living in the hearts of people of Tamil Nadu ‘forever’ and that she was a catalyst of “our inner consciousness.”
“... an inspirational force to realise our potential, the late chief minister Puratchi Thalaivi Jayalalithaa continues to be our guiding beacon and a guardian of the good governance regime established by her perseverance,” he said.
The incumbent Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami was effectively following the path laid down by her, while “surmounting all challenges posed by adversaries,” he said.
Panneerselvam said he was presenting the budget after “revering her visionary and able leadership and seeking her blessings to continue to fulfil her great legacy.”
Earlier, the ruling AIADMK legislators accorded a grand welcome to Palaniswami and Panneerselvam by thumping their desks when they jointly entered the Assembly Hall to present the budget.
Visits memorial after presentation
Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam visited the memorial of the late chief minister J Jayalalithaa, after presenting the budget. When Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar was the Finance Minister in 2017, he visited the burial site of Jayalalithaa, on Marina beach, and placed the budget document as a mark of getting blessings from the former party supremo. However, the incident backfired as Jayakumar was criticised for carrying the budget document outside the Assembly before presenting it. After the incident, Panneerselvam, when he took over the Ministry visited Jayalalithaa memorial after presenting the budget, in 2018. Similarly, on Friday, Panneerselvam visited her memorial only after presenting the budget to avoid controversy.