Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Assembly was adjourned till tomorrow in respect to late chief minister of Tamil Nadu after paying rich tributes and observing one-minute silence for the departed soul today.
“I would like to announce that the House will not transact any business today in respect to the late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa. The House remained adjourned till Wednesday 10.30 am", Speaker Niranjan Pujari announced after reading out his condolence message in the House.
Elaborating the successful career of J Jayalalithaa as an actor to eminent politician, the Speaker paid homage and announced to convey the message to the bereaved family.
"Late Jayalalithaa had carved a niche for herself before entering into the active politics. She had acted in around 140 films of differen languages including Tamil, Telugu, Kannad and Hindi. She was a member of Rajya Sabha from 1984 to 1989. She had assumed the office Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly in 1989. She had served as chief minister from 1991 to 1996, 1996 to 2001 and 2001 to 2006, 2011 to 2014, 2015 and 2016. She breathed her last on 5/12/2016. I joined the Leader of the House and chief minister Naveen Patnaik offering homage to the departed soul”, Pujari said.
Soon after the House assembled for the day, the Speaker called upon the Leader of the House and chief minister to move the obituary motion. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik recalled his late Tamil Nadu counterpart’s contribution for Odisha and her State.
"With profound grief I rise to move the obituary motion on the sad demise of Tamil Nadu chief minister Selvi J. Jayalalithaa. She was a leader of the masses and had made immense contribution to the development and welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu. Her benevolent measures endeared her to one and all. The people of Tamil Nadu affectionately referred her as Amma. She enjoyed a huge mandate and was known for her administrative calibre and political sagacity. She was the iron lady of Tamil Nadu who steered the State in the path of progress and prosperity”, Patnaik added.
“Jayalalithaa ji had a special relationship with Odisha. She had always stood by us in both our good and bad times. She had been a great admirer of Biju Babu and had always displayed her reverence for him. During the times of natural calamity, she had been very helpful to us. She was very supportive of us in protection and safety of migrant labourers working in Tamil Nadu. She was kind enough to allot land in a prime locality of Chennai for construction of Odisha Bhawan. When Biju Janata Dal floated the name of late PA Sangma ji for the president of India.
Jayalalithaa ji was one of the first political leaders to support us unequivocally”, Patnaik addressed in his condolence message.
“Her death is a great National loss. The people of Odisha stand in solidarity with the people of Tamil Nadu in this hour of grief and bereavement. She is no more. But, she will continue to live in the hearts of the millions of people espcially among the women who she cared deeply”, the CM said.
“I pray that her soul may rest in peace. I would also like to mention that I am proceeding to Chennai to attend her funeral”, Naveen said.
Similarly, Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra joined CM in offering condolence to the late leader.
“I joined the leader of the House in mourning the death of Jayalalithaa, who was the chief minister of Tamil Nadu. I also entirely agree with the views expressed by honourable chief minister. Certainly, her death is great loss to the people of Tamil Nadu and the nation as a whole. She was fighter and because of her great determination, she could overcome many odds", Mishra said.
BJP legislature party chief KV Singhdeo also condoled death of Jayalalithaa. “I joined the leader of the House and Leader of Opposition in offering our deepest condolence on the sad demise of Miss J Jaylalithaa, chief minister of Tamil Nadu. India lost the most colourful and contemporary political personality SinghDeo said.
Notably, the popular pro-people leaders, who suffered a massive cardiac arrest on Sunday evening, passed away at 11:30 pm on Monday night, after battling for life for 75 days, the Apollo Hospitals, where she was undergoing treatment, said in a statement.