CHENNAI: Benevolence, a unique trait of AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran, marked his 95th birthday on Tuesday. While party chief and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa extended financial assistance to 115 students to pursue higher studies, cadre and followers of the late leader organised annadanam and distribution of free dhotis and sarees to the needy throughout the State. Many of the cadre worshipped MGR by breaking coconuts and decorating his portraits with garlands in every street corner while songs from MGR films rented the air.Jayalalithaa garlanded the statue of her political mentor at the AIADMK headquarters and distributed sweets to partymen gathered there. She also released a souvenir on the occasion and the first copy was received by KK Kalaimani, secretary, party’s fishermen wing.On Tuesday alone, she gave away assistance of Rs 45.57 lakh to 115 students from poor families. So far, 1,029 students have received Rs 4.17 crore for pursuing their higher studies. Jayalalithaa also unveiled a life-size statue of MGR installed at Kallakurichi bus stand, through video-conferencing facility. She presented a cheque for Rs 1 lakh to Jayanthi, wife of Vasudevan, a member of the party’s unorganised drivers’ wing who died recently. Meanwhile, cadre of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra and Delhi also celebrated the birthday of MGR. In Delhi, MP A William Rabi Bernard and others garlanded MGR’s statue. While a boating contest was held in Kottivakkam, notebooks were given away in Thoraipakkam.
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