Tamil Nadu   

‘Tamil parties do not give importance to the idea of India as much as they do to Tamil’

TIRUCHENGODE: Political parties in Tamil Nadu do not given enough importance to the ‘idea of India’ as much as they do to the ‘idea of Tamil’, Karti P. Chidambaram has said.

Addressing a gathering at the K.S.R. College of Engineering here on Tuesday, the Union Finance Minister’s son said, “When it comes to Tamil Nadu the idea of India takes a backseat. Tamil political parties pay more attention to Tamil than the Country, and the latter takes a back seat."

“An example of this can be seen at public functions where the ‘Tamil thai vazhththu’ is sung but not the national anthem," he said.

Being Tamil and Indian was not contradictory, he added.

"One can be a good Tamil and a great Indian. I don’t see any contradiction."

On the country’s economic boom, Mr. Chidambaram said there had never been a golden age in the past. “India was never a better country. If there is a golden age it is today, when there are greater opportunities for a larger number of people, particularly women."

“Fifty years ago those who succeeded in business or politics were from wealthy families. Today, however, anybody can become great, and so much is the opportunity."

He then blamed the media for the prevailing cynicism among the young.

“The media portrays things that are bad. In fact, 80 per cent of the news is negative. And, the youngsters who come across the news turn cynical”.

He also touched upon women’s education, dress code in education institutions, among others.

M. N. Kandasamy, director, Indian Overseas Bank, said education loan was a big boon to students, as it enabled many from the weaker sections of the society access quality education.

Founder-president of KSR group of institutions K.S. Rangasamy, Principal of KS. Rangasamy College of Technology PSS. Srinivasan, Principal of K.S.R. College of Engineering K. Rameshwaran, Principal of KSR College of Arts and Science N. Kannan and others participated.

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