The Hindu : Front Page : Strive to make Tamil an official language, Karunanidhi tells youth

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 04, 2007
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Strive to make Tamil an official language, Karunanidhi tells youth

Special Correspondent

Says linking of rivers is his long-felt dream to promote national integrity

FOR THE FUTURE: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi watering a sapling after planting it near the Anna flyover on the occasion of his 84th birthday celebrations in Chennai. — Photo: M. Vedhan

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, who turned 84 on Sunday, appealed to the Tamil youths to work for declaring Tamil as one of the official languages of the nation and linking of rivers.

In his birthday message, he said that his long-felt dream and that of his party was to link rivers in the country to promote national integrity and unity among states and Tamil should become one of the official languages of the nation. Tamil youths should work for the fulfilment of these demands and people of other States should cooperate for achieving it. He hoped that the other southern States would cooperate in the interlinking of rivers.

Birthday greetings

Earlier in the day, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala were among those who greeted Mr. Karunanidhi on his birthday.

A flower basket was presented to the Chief Minister by Barnala's son Jasjit Singh Barnala. Several dignitaries, including Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, Congress leader Oscar Fernandes, Tamil Nadu Palm Tree Workers Board Chairman Kumari Ananthan and Prince of Arcot Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali greeted the Chief Minister.

To mark the occasion, Mr. Karunanidhi launched a State-wide tree planting programme by planting a sapling at a function organised by the State Highways Department, which planted three lakh saplings in various districts and would maintain them. MLAs and MPs from the party planted saplings at functions at various district headquarters. Mr. Karunanidhi paid floral tributes to Anna and Periyar in the morning and accepted greetings from the people at his residence and the party office. Thousands of party workers waited for hours at Anna Arivalayam, the party headquarters, to greet their leader.

They presented Mr. Karunanidhi with shawls and an assorted variety of gifts. Officials, actors and people from various walks of life met Mr. Karunanidhi at his residence and greeted him.

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