Meira Kumar seeks conscience vote in Presidential poll

Chennai: The presidential candidate of Opposition parties, Meira Kumar, on Saturday appealed to the members of Parliament and Assemblies to "listen to their little inner voice of conscience and act on that", when they vote in the Presidential elections. She also met DMK president M. Karunanidhi at his Gopalapuram residence and enquired about his health.

Describing the Presidential elections as an 'ideological war', Meira Kumar said she had written letters to all party MLAs and MPs to support her in the ideological battle. She said "The unity of opposition is firmly based on ideology. This unity is inspired by the value system which we hold dear and most of the countrymen find sacred".

At a meeting of MLAs and MPs belonging to DMK, Congress and IUML and later at a media briefing here, she said The values are inspired by Gandhiji who had wanted to ensure the dignity and rights of Dalits, the tribals, the poorest, the marginalized, she said and added  "we want to destroy poverty and caste system.

The principles are in danger and serious threat. I am here not to fight just an elections, but to articulate what you, what most of the countrymen feel".
She said Tamil Nadu had always shown to the rest of the country how to uphold secularism and social justice. Meira Kumar recalled that her father Jageevan Ram and DMK president M. Karunanidhi cherished the same value and worked for the depressed.

Earlier, DMK working president, who welcomed her said in the meeting said his party is supporting her so that the trumpet of social justice is heard from the Rashtrapathi Bhavan.

He said the country facing crisis since those who were voted to power on the promises of development, eradication of corruption and welfare of farmers had deviated from democracy and moving in an autocratic path. They think they could do anything since they have the majority, Stalin said.

"At such a juncture, the opposition parties have selected a suitable candidate to uphold social justice and protect India's pluralistic character. The trumpet of social justice should be heard from the President's house", he said.

Stalin also recalled that Meira Kumar was present when Karunanidhi unveiled a statue of her father Jagajeevan Ram in the city in 1990.

DMK principal secretary K. Duraimurugan,party MPs Kanimozhi, T.K.S. Elangovan, N.Siva, TNCC president S. Thirunavukkarasar, CPM member T.K. Rangarajan, CPI member D.Raja, Congress floor leader Ramasamy and IUML member Abu Bakkar were present in the function. Later, she went to Karunanidhi’s residence at Gopalapuram and enquired about his health.