Sweets, tea, fish given to public

Chennai: The saffron party members celebrated the swearing-in of Narendra Modi as 15th Prime Minister of India by generously distributing 282 fish packets — marking the BJP’s landslide victory in securing 282 Lok Sabha seats –  and sweets besides serving tea to the the public on Monday.

At Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, a BJP functionary G. Adikesavalu not only served tea and sweets for free but also set up a huge screen in front of the NaMo tea stall to enable the public watch the swearing-in ceremony.

“We need not petition the ministers or government officials to secure the release of our brethren hereafter from neighbouring countries. Just see the stunning impact of Mr Modi becoming the Prime Minister. Both Pakistan and Sri Lanka released all our fishermen and their boats. This is really an occasion to rejoice,” says Satish Kumar, president of state unit of BJP fishermen wing, with relief writ large on his face.

He told Deccan Chronicle that the fishermen celebrated the release of their colleagues by bursting crackers in Nagapattinam.

“Though initially we planned to give away 200 fish packets of one kg each and valued at Rs 200 each, we increased the number to 282 beneficiaries,” Mr Satish said. Each packet of the NaMo fish contained an image of Mr Modi holding a fish.

At the Sankara Mutt in West Mambalam a special homam was performed for Mr Modi invoking the blessings of god for a healthy and long life for him and to enable the new Prime Minister to make India strong, wealthy, peaceful and a superpower.

The BJP members in Velachery distributed sweets to the members of the public at 6 pm. According to N. Siva Shankar, president of 178th division, the party organised chenda melam programme on the occasion. Similar events were held in various parts of the city including Tambaram and suburbs.