It was a birthday which could have turned her opponents and rivals green with envy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa on her 67th birthday which fell on Tuesday. “Birthday greetings to Jayalalithaaji. May she be blessed with a long life filled with good health,” the Prime Minister tweeted.
The former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, who was convicted and sentenced in the disproportionate asset case by the special court judge in Bangalore in September 2014 for four years imprisonment and Rs100-crore fine, had a quiet birthday at Veda Nilayam, her private residence at Poes Garden in Chennai. Party workers and leaders have been told not to crowd Veda Nilayam on birthday.
Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah also greeted the former Chief Minister wishing her a long life and good health.
“Rosaiah sent a big bouquet and wished her all success in her service to the people and wished her good health and happiness. He also hailed her leadership skills and commitment for people,” said a Press release issued by the AIADMK headquarters. The Governor had praised Jayalalithaa to the hilt during his customary address to the Tamil Nadu legislative Assembly last week.
The AIADMK headquarters wore a festive look on Tuesday morning. Chief Minister O Paneerselvan and all members of his council of Ministers and all AIADMK MlAs celebrated the 67th birthday of their Amma by cutting a giant cake weighing 67 kg.
The State Government on Tuesday launched a massive tree plantation drive across the State. The mission is to plant 67 lakh saplings across the State to mark the 67th birthday of the leader. The tree planting drive would be completed by December 2015. It was a practice of Jayalalithaa to launch such a sapling plantation drive as Chief Minister, with programmes scheduled just a few days ahead of her birthday. She herself had initiated programmes to plant 64 lakh, 65 lakh and 66 lakh saplings in 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively.
The Rs52.72 crore effort was being continued as it was "well received" by people, the release said adding 2,09,375 saplings will be planted in each of the 32 districts in the State. The Government also launched a number of welfare measures for poor people. Physically challenged people were given tricycles as well as other paraphernalia.