President, PM, among others greet MK on birthday

Chennai, Jun 3: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) President M Karunanidhi, who assumed office as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for the record fifth time, turned 83 today.

A host of national leaders, including President A P J Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and State Governor S S Barnala, besides his party colleagues, conveyed their hearty greetings. Mr Karunanidhi drove down to ''Anna Memorial'' to pay respects to his mentor, C N Annadurai.

After offering floral tributes to the Dravidian stalwart at his memorial on Marina at 0700 hrs, Mr Karunanidhi paid his respects to rationalist leader Periyar E V Ramasamy in his memorial at Vepery.

Later he visited a ration shop to launch the ''Rice at Rs two per kg'' scheme, the popular poll promise, which virtually won the elections for the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) in the May eight assembly elections.

As he returned to Anna Arivalayam, party headquarters, many eaders and thousands of partymen, besides people from various walks of life turned up to extend their greetings.

Shouts of ''Kalaignar Vazhaga'' (Long live Kalaignar) rent the air as the DMK Supremo entered the Kalaignar Arangam at the party office to receive greetings from the leaders and partymen, who queued up to present shawls and bouquets to him.

Elsewhere in the State, mass feeding, distribution of school uniforms, text books and financial assistance to children, medical and blood donation camps, distribution of welfare assitance to the poor marked the celebrations and planting of saplings. On behalf of the South Chennai district unit, gold rings were presented to children born at the Kasturibai Gandhi hospital at Triplicane.

The birthday celebrations also coincided with the launch of a slew of other welfare programmes, including a marriage assistance scheme under which 33,333 girls will be provided Rs 15,000 each during 2006-07, another popular poll promise.

The relaunch of the DMK Chief's pet scheme 'Uzhavar Sandhai' (farmers' market), facilitating farmers to directly market their produce and 'Samathuvapuram' (equal habitations), his brainchild to ensure peaceful co-existence of different communities, also marked the birthday celebrations.

UNI