CM unveils statue of former Speaker Palanivel Rajan

Madurai, Aug 6 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today unveiled the life-size bronze statue of former Assembly Speaker and senior DMK leader late P T R Palanivel Rajan at Chokkikulam Roundana here today.

P T R Palanivel Rajan, who hailed from Madurai, served as the speaker of the Tamil Nadu Aseembly during 1996. He was also the minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments for a brief period in 2006, when the DMK was in power.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Karunanidhi recalled the great services rendered by the late Dravidian leader not only for Madurai, but for the entire state.

Terming Palanivel Rajan's family as a predecessor family that served for the development of DMK, he said Palanivel Rajan was a leader loved by the people of the state, especially Madurai.

His services as a speaker brought fame for him from various states in the country, he said.

Mr Karunanidhi also recalled his close friendship with P T Rajan, father of Palanivel Rajan and a veteran leader of the Justice Party, sought equal rights for women over their father's property, passed by the Self Respect Conference in 1929 at Chengalpattu. The resolution was brought by Founder of Dravidar Kazhagam E V Ramasamy ('Thanthai Periyar').

Nearly 60 years later, the DMK government made it a legislation in 1989 and fulfilled the dream of Periyar, he claimed.

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