The Hindu : Front Page : Karunanidhi urges allies to work with government

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Thursday, Nov 02, 2006
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Karunanidhi urges allies to work with government

Special Correspondent

"To achieve the aim of having Tamil in all spheres"

— Photo: R. Ragu

EXCHANGING GREETINGS: Governor Surjit Singh Barnala, with Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on the occasion of the golden jubilee celebrations of Tamil Nadu at Kalaivanar Arangam in Chennai on Wednesday.

CHENNAI: On the occasion of the golden jubilee of the formation of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi urged the DMK allies to work together with the Government to achieve the aim of having Tamil in every sphere of activity.

"Many leaders were saying here that this should be done during your time [Karunanidhi's time.] I implore you not to forget that this is our time. Let us do it in our time. This jointly during our time," he said.

Mr. Karunanidhi said pension for those who participated in the agitation to ensure that Tamil Nadu did not lose vast lands to other States would be hiked. From now on, they would be paid Rs. 4,000 a month instead of Rs.3,000. The family pension, given to families of martyrs, would be hiked from Rs.1,500 to Rs.2,000 a month, he said.

Governor Surjit Singh Barnala distributed a memento and a shawl to 149 such persons who had participated in the agitation.

"State surging ahead"

Later, he said that this was the time to identify the future course of action. "There has been a phenomenal change in the recent past. A remarkable progress has been made in various sectors. Be it infrastructure, education, information technology, healthcare, textiles — Tamil Nadu is surging ahead, developing enthusiastically," he said.

Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S.Ramadoss said that though the resolution to make Tamil as language of governance was adopted in the 1950s, it was not in practice in many spheres. "Only you have the ability to change this," he told Mr. Karunanidhi and added that no one else could do this. He also wanted Mr.Karunanidhi to ensure that Tamil became the language of the courts.

CPI (M) Central Committee Member T.K.Rengarajan said the Congress was reluctant to implement the carving out of States on linguistic basis after it came to power because Pakistan had just broken away and there were secessionist tendencies in the south and Kashmir. It finally gave in after the death of Potti Sriramalu. The nation had only become stronger consequent to the division, he said.

Dalit Panthers of India general secretary Thol. Thirumavalavan wanted another reorganisation of States to ensure that Tamil Nadu got back some of the lands it lost.

Information and Publicity Minister Parithi Ilamvazhuthi said Tamizhagam was not merely a geographical entity, but a way of life.

TNCC president M. Krishnasswamy said many would not remember the martyrs and wanted their life and times to be part of school textbooks.

CPI state secretary D.Pandian said Tamil should have primacy in the State and pointed to many instances of English being imposed on students and others.

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