TN Governor, CM greet people on Ugadi

Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi, Chief Minister M K Stalin and AIADMK top leader K Palaniswami on Tuesday greeted people speaking Telugu and Kannada languages on the occasion of Ugadi festival.

Ravi said: ''On the auspicious occasion of Bharatiya New Year, Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Cheti Chand, and Chaitra Navratri, I am extending my heartiest greetings and best wishes to people, especially the Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Sindhi, and Hindi brothers and sisters of Tamil Nadu.'' Such festivals reflected ''our eternally shared rich and vibrant spiritual and cultural heritage'' and its underlying oneness, he said.

CM Stalin said the Ugadi festival that marks the new year should go on to strengthen ties between people who belong to one language family and live south of the Vindhyas.

''My Ugadi greetings,'' he said and batted for unity and brotherhood among the Dravidian people to safeguard the rights, language and culture. Public holiday was declared for Ugadi by former chief minister M Karunanidhi honouring the sentiments of people speaking Telugu and Kannada languages living in Tamil Nadu, he said.

Palaniswami, who is the Leader of Opposition, in his greetings wished people health and prosperity, and said Ugadi also taught the importance of patience to face the ups and downs of life.

Ugadi falls on March 22 this year.