CHENNAI: Jaya Calls Off AIADMK’s Christmas Celebrations
Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa on Sunday called off Christmas celebrations on behalf of the party this year in view of the severe damages caused by floods in four districts of the State.
“In accordance with the preaching of Jesus Christ that all assistance extended to the people in distress is indeed extended to the Almighty, let the AIADMK cadre mark Christmas by presenting welfare assistance to the people affected by the floods,” the Chief Minister said in a statement here.
She said the State government had been extending all possible assistance to the people affected by the floods on a war footing and everyone in the society had a duty to take part in this relief and rescue operations. She also promised that all assistance would be extended to the people affected by the floods to restart their lives at the earliest. Since the flood relief works were of a tremendous nature, everyone in the society had a duty and responsibility to take part in it, she said.
“I welcome the intention of Christian organisations to celebrate the Christmas in a low key manner, considering the devastation caused by natural calamity,” she said and added that Christmas celebrations on behalf of the AIADMK would be cancelled this year.
Defer Civil Services Exams by Two Months; Jaya to PM
Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to instruct the Union Public Service Commission to postpone the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2015 by at least two months considering the devastation caused by severe floods in four coastal districts of Tamil Nadu.
The Chief Minister, in her letter on December 12 to the Prime Minister, pointed out that many students from all over Tamil Nadu appearing for the Civil Services Examination, use Chennai as the main centre for preparation, staying in hostels and in other rented accommodation in different parts of the city. Their life had been completely disrupted in the last few weeks and they had been unable to concentrate and study for the examination.
“Given the hardship students from TN have suffered in the past few weeks, conducting the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2015, from December 18 will place these candidates at a distinct disadvantage vis-a-vis candidates from other parts of the country. Postponing of the examinations will enable the students from Tamil Nadu also to appear in these examinations with adequate preparation and on a level playing field with their counterparts elsewhere in the country,” the Chief Minister added.
She pointed out that life was returning to normal in many parts of Chennai and the other flood affected districts. There was considerable interruption to various services including electricity supply. Schools and colleges in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts were expected to reopen only on December 14.