Odisha on Tuesday paid rich tributes to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Selvi J Jayalalithaa, who passed away in Chennai late on Monday night, with the State Assembly passing an Obituary Motion on her and suspending all its businesses for the day and the Chief Minister moving to Chennai and paying his last respects to the departed leader.
As the House assembled for the day, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik moved the motion and expressed his deep grief over Jayalalithaa’s death.
“She (Jayalalithaa) was a leader of the masses. The people of Tamil Nadu affectionately referred to her as ‘Amma’. The iron lady of Tamil Nadu had a special relationship with Odisha and the people of Odisha,” said Patnaik.
He said Jayalalithaa had always stood by Odisha in both its good and bad times. She had been a great admirer of Bijubabu. During the times of natural calamities, she had been very helpful to Odisha and was very supportive in the protection and safety of migrant labourers working in Tamil Nadu. She was kind enough to allot land in a prime location of Chennai for construction of an Odisha Bhawan.
“Her death is great a national loss. The people of Odisha stand in solidarity with the people of Tamil Nadu in this hour of grief and bereavement,” said the CM.
leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra and BJP legislature Party leader KV Singh Deo joining the Chief Minister in mourning the death of Jayalalithaa hailed her as a great leader and said her demise is a great loss for Tamil Nadu and the country as well.
Speaker Niranjan Pujari too mourned her death. Members observed a one-minute silence for the departed soul. Then, Pujari adjourned the House for the day as a mark of respect to Jayalalithaa.
As per his announcement in the House, Patnaik shortly later proceeded to Chennai by a special helicopter to pay his last respects to Jayalalithaa and returned by evening, sources said.