June 3 the birth anniversary of late Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi will be celebrated as a government function, announced Chief Minister M.K Stalin in the Assembly today.
Speaking in the Assembly under Rule 110, the Chief Minister said, Kalaignar Karunanidhi was the only person who has never lost an election. He is the only person to win all the elections he contested from 1957 to 2016. He was a member of the legislative assembly 13 times and had been its member for 60 years.
Kalaignar Karunanidhi was the member of the Upper House of the assembly in 1984. He was the Chief Minister for 5 times. It was during this five time tenure of Kalaignar Karunanidhi, the modern Tamilnadu that we see before our eyes said Stalin.
Listing the land mark schemes and projects he said, Kalaignar was instrumental in getting Clasical language status for mother language Tamil, increase in backward communities in Union Government jobs, law allowing all community people to become priests, law to give share in property for women, social justice rights to backward, most backward and scheduled castes; Free power for farmers, waiver of Rs 7000 crore worth cooperative societies’ loans, Tidel Park in Taramani, Metro Rail project for Chennai; Establishing of SIPCOT and SIDCO for industrial development, establishment of Tamilnadu Slum Clearance Board, Tamilnadu Drainage and Water Supply Board, Namakku Name Scheme, Anna Marumalarchi Thittam, Emergency Ambulance Service 108, free medical insurance scheme, introduction of mini bus service for last mile connectivity, Uzhavar Sandhais, young widows re-marriage scheme, assistance to preganant mothers, 30 per cent reservation in government jobs for woman, 33 percent reservation for women in electoral representation, free cooking gas scheme with free gas stoves and creation of Self Help Groups.
Furthermore, the Thandhai Periyar Memorial Samathuvapuram for all community people to live together, 3.5 percent reservation for muslims, giving backward community status for urudu speaking muslims, entrance test abolishing, free bus pass for students, establishment of Salem Steel Plan, Salem New Railway Division, Nemili saline water purification plant, Hognekal combined drinking water scheme, combined drinking water scheme in Ramanathapuram, Anna Centenary Library,the biggest in Asia, rehab schemes for differently abled and transgenders, several universities and medical colleges, arts and science colleges and uncountable number of schemes and projects were introduced, said the Chief Minister.
If these are the identity of Tamilnadu, those identities were created by Kalaignar Karunanidhi. He was the leader of leaders and was a political guide to pan India politics and not just that of Tamilnadu.
It was for the first time in the history of the parliament, the two houses were adjourned to mourn the death of Kalaignar Karunanidhi. He transcended state and attracted a pan India following. Stalin further said Kalaignar was creator of creators, a great poet among artists, a great political personality,
a person with a sharp political wisdom, an efficient administrator and a person who would win the audience with his superior oratorical skills. He was the champion of the assembly who alone know the winning formula. He used to say that his position may be snatched but none can snatch his pen.
Government and politics ruled him. This government wants to pay its just historic duty to such a leader. June 3, the day he was born will be observed as a Government function said Stalin. A large statue of Kalaignar Karunandhi will be installed in the Omandurar, Government Complex he added.