The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Rangasamy stresses the need to protect secularism

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 21, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Rangasamy stresses the need to protect secularism

Special Correspondent

Greets INTUC volunteers from Karnataka

SOLEMN MARCH: Chief Minister N. Rangasamy and PCC leader P. Shanmugham (second from right) handing over the Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Torch to the INTUC volunteers in Puducherry on Sunday. — Photo: T. Singaravelou

Puducherry: Chief Minister N. Rangasamy has stressed that the growth of the nation depends on unity and it is necessary to combat divisive forces and challenges posed to secularism.

He was addressing on Sunday the volunteers of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) from Karnataka, on their way from Bangalore to Sriperumbudur carrying "Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Jyothi (torch)".

The jyothi will be handed to the TNCC president Krishnaswamy at the Rajiv Gandhi Memorial at Sriperumbudur on Monday on the occasion of the 16th death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

"Face challenges"

Vice-president of the INTUC Karnataka S.S. Prakasam is leading the team. Presenting the tricolour angawastaram to each of the volunteers at the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the Beach Road, the Chief Minister said that the message of Rajiv Gandhi that the country should scale greater heights in every field of development should be borne in mind by the youth. He said that there had been instances of threat to country's unity by divisive forces and religious fundamentalists. These challenges should be faced squarely. PCC president P. Shanmugham also greeted the team.

Earlier on arrival, the volunteers were given a rousing reception by their counterparts in Puducherry.

The INTUC leader here, G. Ravichandran, joined the team in their procession from near the Kamaraj statue in Pattanikadai junction to the Beach Road.

The Chief Minister also saw a batch of 50 volunteers of the INTUC (Puducherry) off at the Mahatma Gandhi statue leaving here for Sriperumbudur. Vice president of the organisation here S. Srinivasan accompanied.

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