"Fatwa" shows precious value to my tongue : MK

Chennai, Sep 23: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M Karunanidhi, welcoming the ''fatwa'' issued against him by VHP leader and former BJP MP Ram Vilas Vedanti for his remarks on 'Lord Ram and Ramayana,' said it showed the precious value of his head and tongue.'' Speaking at a felicitation function organised by the Tamil Nadu Elementary School Teachers Mandram here last night, he said by offering gold, the friend in North India had made known the precious value his head and tongue possessed. He said as long as he lived with the people, no one could destroy him.

''One might take my head. But that would not erase the indelible mark I have left on various fields, as his life had permeated all aspects of the lives of Tamils in the state'', he said.

From literature to art to politics, he had left his stamp in every field, Mr Karunanidhi said, amid a thunderous applause from the packed gathering at the Valluvar Kottam.

''Besides, my name pervades the lives of great leaders like Periyar, Anna, Bharathidasan, all my brethren and every household in Tamil Nadu. I may be beheaded but my service and sacrifice to this state cannot be erased,'' he added.

''Considering the services rendered by me, even if the head goes, in future it will come back in the form of Postal stamp,'' he added.

UNI