MK urges PM to institute 'Valluvar', 'Tholkappiar' awards

Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, Nov 4 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to institute 'Valluvar' and 'Tholkappiar' awards as part of the classical language status accorded to Tamil.

Participating in the foundation-laying ceremony of the Global Automotive Research Centre at Oragadam near here, he thanked the Centre for declaring Tamil a classical language.

But, the Centre had to initiate steps for the effective implementation of the Government order and institute awards in the name of ancient Tamil poets Valluvar and Tholkappiar, he said.

Mr Karunanidhi also reiterated his demand for developing Colachel port at Kanniyakumari, suitable compensation to the State for implementing VAT, Central assistance for desalination project in Chennai, modernisation of Chennai airport on the Delhi-Mumbai model and bullet trains from Chennai to Coimbatore and Madurai.

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