Jaya, Vaiko greet people, criticise change of New Year

Chennai, Apr 12 (UNI) The All India Anna DMK (AIADMK) General Secretary J Jayalalithaa and Marumalarchi DMK (MDMK) General Secretary Vaiko today greeted the people on the occasion of ''Tamil New year'', though the state government had declared the first day of Tamil month, 'Thai' as Tamil New Year day.

Ms Jayalalithaa and Mr Vaiko conveyed their ''Tamil new year'' greetings to the people of the state, refusing to recognise 'Thai' one as Tamil New year day.

Till last year, the state celebrated April 14, the first day of Tamil month 'Chithirai' as Tamil New Year Day. But the DMK govenment had declared that the people of the state could celebrate 'Thai' one as Tamil New Year day along with Pongal festival with redoubled joy.

However, the AIADMK, MDMK and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) did not accept the change.

Ms Jayalalithaa, wished happiness and prosperity to the people and called upon them to take a pledge to work for a new beginning.

Mr Vaiko said the first day of 'Chithirai' month in the Tamil calendar, coincided with the lives of Tamils in many ways and it would be apt to celebrate April 14 as Tamil New Year day.

BJP state unit president L Ganesan flayed the state government for changing the Tamil New Year day, intefering with the sentiments of the Hindus.

In a statement here, he charged that the government's banning of recital of scriptures and arranging special worships in temples on 'Chithirai Thirunal', amounted to interfering with the religious rights of the Hindus.

UNI WS VV LPB RK1630