Chennai: Tamil Nadu BJP postponed the Pongal event scheduled on January 12 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and called as ‘Modi Pongal’ in view of the Omicron threat and the state government’s COVID-19 restrictions. There is no official announcement yet on PM Modi’s visit for the scheduled other state government programs.
The BJP state president Annamalai, addressing the reporters said, “Tamil Nadu BJP wanted to celebrate Tamil Nadu's cultural festival Pongal in a grand manner in Madurai. We informed about the event to PM Modi's office and started to make the arrangements. However, due to the Omicron threat and the guidelines of the state government, we have decided to not hold the event.”
The state BJP is postponing the event in which PM Modi was supposed to take part, he said.
On the other functions scheduled for PM Modi's visit on January 12, Annamalai said, an official announcement would come only from the state government on the events scheduled by them.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to visit Puducherry and Tamil Nadu on January 12 to take part in various events. In Tamil Nadu, the PM was expected to take part in the 'Modi Pongal' event and to inaugurate 11 new medical colleges in Tamil Nadu by sharing a stage with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.
This was also the first meet of PM Modi after TN CM Stalin took oath as the Chief Minister.
The PM in Puducherry is also expected to visit Aurobindo Ashram and to inaugurate National Youth Festival, in which over 700 students from the union territory are expected to participate on January 12.