Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Sunday categorically made it clear that retirement was his personal issue and that he alone could decide on ‘when and where to put down the papers.’ In his acceptance speech to the felicitation offered by Sanga Tamizh Peravai here, Karunanidhi said the function organised by STP was the best ever held in Valluvar Kottam. Expressing happiness at the participation of Union Ministers Farooq Abdullah, S M Krishna and others, he fondly recalled the decades old links between him and Farooq’s father Sheik Abdullah.Probably suggesting that he may perhaps choose to continue in office even after the World Classical Tamil conference, Karunanidhi said: “This felicitation is not intended to just make me happy and give me a send off on the eve of my retirement. It is my personal issue to decide when, where and in what circumstances to retire,” he said.
Stressing that he viewed such felicitations as intended to accelerate his pace of work, Karunanidhi said the journey in the ideological path of Anna would continue.
“It will not be suffice if I alone show quickness in this journey and it is essential that all others; including senior party leaders, ministers, MLAs and MPs keep pace,” he said. Karunanidhi for the first time hinted at a function in Valluvar Kottam organised by Arunthathiyar organisations that he would come even closer to the people by keeping away from politics after the completion of the World Classical Tamil conference.
After receiving the Kolkata Barathi Tamil Sangam’s ‘Tamil Talaimagan (Tamil patriarch) Award’ again at Valluvar Kottam, Karunanidhi said his plans to retire from active politics still held good.
KRISHNA LAUDS MK
Union External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on Sunday heaped praise on Chief Minister M Karunanidhi by calling him a role model worthy of emulation by the chief ministers of other States. Addressing a function organised by Sanga Tamizh Peravai to felicitate Karunanidhi, Krishna said he was privileged to study the various programmes of the government of Tamil Nadu. “The wise leadership, astute statesmanship and vision for the future of the Tamil people are an inspiration for all of us.” Calling Karunanidhi ‘a man of destiny and light of the South’ , Krishna said the CM had set an example for others to emulate.
