Governor, CM, leaders wish Pongal greetings

Chennai, Jan 14: Tamil Nadu Governor and other political leaders today extended Pongal greetings for the harvest festival being celebrated tomorrow.

In his greetings, Barnala said let the festival of Pongal, besides Sankranthi and Lohri, may ''rekindle in us the spirit of oneness and unity and bring in peace, harmony and prosperity.''

In a release here, he conveyed his ''heartiest greetings'' and best wishes to the people in Tamil Nadu and all over the country.

Chief Minister M Karunanidhi urged the people to celebrate the festival in a grand manner and exhorted them to light a lamp at all houses besides decorating houses with festoons and conducting various programmes on the occasion.

He said that Pongal transcended caste, political and other differences.

In an official statement here, he recalled the various pro-farmers measures of his government including waving of the Rs 7000 crore cooperative loans and other populist measures and expressed hope that these will help him serve the people in the coming years too, hinting at the elections due in May.

AIADMK chief and Opposition Leader Jayalalithaa hoped that the birth of the auspicious Tamil month Thai, coinciding with the festival, brought a change of guard in the state and wished peace, prosperity and happiness in all homes.

''The festival transcends caste and creed lines and it is a day to thank the nature and cattle,'' she said.

TNCC president K V Thankgabalu, MDMK leader Vaiko and CPI (M) general secretary G Ramakrishnan also greeted the people on the occasion.

PTI