Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu hailed former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and DMK stalwart, Dr. M. Karunanidhi, as an iconic leader who strengthened the nation’s federal character. Unveiling the statue of Kalaignar Karunanidhi on the occasion of the 98th birth anniversary celebrations of the legendary DMK leader organised by the Government of Tamil Nadu at Omandurar Estates in Chennai, Naidu paid glowing tributes to Karunanidhi.
He pointed out that he was among leaders who strengthened the country’s federal character. He added that in the process, the nation emerged as a strong ‘Team India’. He observed that Karunanidhi was among such exceptional leaders who placed people at the centre of their work and helped India shape into a vibrant, progressive democracy upholding the vision contained in the Preamble of the Constitution.
Naidu pointed out that India is on the move and urged all political parties in different states to work for people’s welfare. “If states develop, India will develop,” he said. He termed Karunanidhi a visionary leader who focused on empowering marginalised people and those outside the circle of development.
“He was an able Chief Minister who has left a lasting legacy of development and social welfare”, Naidu said. He recollected that “Uzhavar sandhai” or farmer’s markets and a health insurance scheme for the poor were among the many initiatives which reflected Karunanidhi’s farsighted approach. Describing Karunanidhi as one of India’s most dynamic chief ministers, the Vice President pointed out that he gave a boost to industrial growth, infrastructure and information technology in Tamil Nadu.
Naidu recalled that he interacted quite closely with Kalaignar Karunanidhi over several decades during the course of his long journey in public life. The Vice President said that the DMK stalwart was a leader who stood firmly by his political beliefs and convictions. In this context, he pointed out that Karunanidhi had opposed the imposition of Emergency by the then Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, in clear and unambiguous terms.
