Upset over violence, TN CM to cancel jubilee fete

Chennai, May 9: Upset over the violent incidents in Madurai, TamilNadu Chief Minister and DMK President M Karunanidhi today offered tocancel the Golden Jubilee celebration, scheduled to be held here on May11 to mark the completion of his 50 years in the state assembly.

As reports of violence, in protest against a survey published by aTamil daily about the lines of succession in the ruling DMK werereceived here, the Chief Minister, who was present in the assembly,convened an emergent meeting at the adjacent ''Vasantha Mandapam'' withleaders of the allies of the ruling DMK. He was closetted with them forabout 30 minutes.

Sources said the Chief Minister was very upset and expressed hisdispleasure over the violence fanned allegedly by some partyfunctionaries and supporters of his son M K Azhagiri, based in Madurai.

The Chief Minister suggested to the alliance party leaders that the function be cancelled.

However, the leaders, pointing out that all arrangements had beenmade for the function, and urged him to change his mind, and appealedto him that he should not insist on cancelling the function.

A host of national leaders, including Prime Minister ManmohanSingh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Ministers V PSingh, I K Gujral and Union Ministers Lalu Yadav and Sharat Pawar arescheduled to attend the function and offer felicitations to MrKarunanidhi.

UNI

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