Jaya walks down memory lane

Chennai:

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa walked down memory lane by cherishing the ties with former Orissa Chief Minister Baiju Patnaik and said she shared the same bond with his son Naveen Patnaik who is like a brother to her.

Sharing the dais with Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the 76^th Utkal Dibas Samaroha here on Friday, Jayalalithaa recalled she had the privilege of hosting him thrice when both were chief ministers.

“I am happy today to host Naveen Patnaik, the illustrious son of an illustrious father. Biju Patnaik was a father figure to me who left behind a legacy of respect, co-operation and mutual affection that continues in the bond I share with his son, Naveen Patnaik,” she said.

The chief minister who unveiled the foundation stone for Odisha Bhavan in Chennai along with her Orissa counterpart, vowed that her government will do everything to expedite the construction of the building on five grounds of land in Velachery.

“I hope it is completed very soon and I hope that Naveen Patnaik will make another visit to Chennai and give me the opportunity of hosting him again, when he comes to inaugurate the Odisha Bhavan,” the chief minister said.

The camaraderie between the two chief ministers could be seen when Navin Patnaik hailed various schemes initiated by Jayalalithaa like cradle scheme for girl child, bringin digital revolution in the state by giving out free laptops, mangalsutra for poor brides and pro-poor rice scheme. “She is an able and excellent administrator,” he said. Jayalalithaa thanked Naveen Patnaik for appreciating her work and said the both the states share similar schemes. “Our two governments think alike, we think alike and we are implementing similar schemes in both our great States,” Jaya added.

She said the the cultural and civilisational links of Tamil Nadu with Odisha can be traced back to the days of the Chola Empire. “The Cholas have left behind a lasting legacy in both the states of Tamil Nadu and Odisha, by their marriage with the Ganga dynasty, and the resultant Cholaganga Dynasty in the Odisha region, which flourished under their rule,” she added.