“The Government of India honoured Puratchi Thalaivar Dr MGR with the highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, for his unparalleled public service,” CM Tamil Nadu said.
The
Tamil Nadu government has urged the Centre to issue a commemorative coin and a
special postal stamp on the birth centenary of former Chief Minister M G
Ramachandran, saying it would be a “fitting tribute” to the Bharat Ratna
recipient on the occasion.
Chief
Minister O. Panneerselvam, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hailed
the AIADMK founder as an “inspirational figure” who is remembered for his
“magnanimity, generosity, commanding leadership and determination to fight for
the legitimate rights of the States”.
“On
the occasion of Puratchi Thalaivar [revolutionary leader] Dr. MGR’s birth
centenary, it would be a fitting tribute to a great leader, an inspiring icon,
who is eternally embedded in the hearts of the people of Tamil Nadu, to issue a
commemorative coin and a special postal stamp,” he said.
The
letter, written on Thursday, was released by the State government on Friday.
The Chief Minister said that issuance of a coin and a special postal stamp
would be welcomed and greatly appreciated by all sections of people in Tamil
Nadu, elsewhere in the country and across the globe.
“I
would be grateful if an expeditious decision is taken and a announcement of the
issue of a commemorative coin and a special postal stamp could be made to
coincide with the commencement of the birth centenary celebrations” of
Ramachandran on January 17, 2017, he said.
Mr.
Panneerselvam told Mr. Modi that he has directed the Chief Secretary Girija
Vaidyanathan to immediately send required details as per the Centre’s guidelines
for issuance of commemorative coin and special postal stamp.
He
said Ramachandran was “one of the most illustrious, charismatic and popular
Chief Ministers of the State,” remembered for having launched several
innovative welfare programmes which, Mr. Panneerselvam said, “have become model
schemes implemented throughout the country.”
''Ramachandran
laid the foundation for the rapid socio-economic growth of Tamil Nadu in the
last three decades. The Government of India honoured Puratchi Thalaivar Dr MGR
with the highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, for his unparalleled public
service,” he said.
