DMK meet pays rich tributes to Karunanidhi

Chennai: The DMK executive committee, which met at the party headquarters – Anna Arivalayam, here on Tuesday paid tributes to its departed long-term president M. Karunanidhi, hailing him as ‘torch-bearer’ of the century not only the DMK but also of entire Tamil people.

The urgent meeting of the executive committee was called to pass a resolution condoling the death of party president who breathed his last on August 7. The meeting, held a week after the passing of the Dravidian stalwart, was chaired by party’s working president M. K. Stalin who is also the Leader of the Oppositon in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

Heaping rich tributes on the iconic Dravidian leader, a resolution passed on the occasion recalled Karunanidhi’s achievements in various fields, including his success in all the elections that he faced, and helming the state as Chief Minister for an overall 19 years. “He implemented many schemes for sustainable growth of villages and all-round development of cities,” the resolution said recalling his various initiatives as Chief Minister, including providing free power for farmers, waiver of cooperative crop loans and rural electrification efforts, etc.

His efforts to ensure reservation in education and jobs for the backward sections of the society and putting them on the path of economic prosperity besides his efforts in protecting minorities' welfare were highlighted. “He supported former Prime Minister late V. P. Singh in his efforts to implement the Mandal Commmission recommendations on 27 per cent reservation (for OBCs) in Central government jobs,” it said. On the social justice and equality front, he enacted a law to enable the members from all castes to become temple priests.

The resolution also hailed the steps he had taken to uphold secularism, to usher in industralisation in Tamil Nadu, the Chennai Metro Rail and bringing in investments to the state. He was very vocal on the issue of regional autonomy, and ensured flag hoisting rights for Chief Ministers on Independence Day.

“He was a leader for emancipation of women” as he implemented several pro-women initiatives including his strong support for the 33 per cent quota for women in local bodies, the resolution which was moved by DMK spokesperson and Rajya Sabha T. K. S. Elangovan, said.

DMK General Secretary K Anbazhagan and senior party leaders including Duraimurugan, Kanimozhi, T R Baalu and A Raja were present at the meet.