PM, Sonia and National leaders praise Karunanidhi

Chennai, May 11 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi led a galaxy of leaders in feting M Karunanidhi, even as the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister made a fervent appeal to them to take steps to inter-link rivers, the only solution to solve the inter-state river water disputes.

Mr Karunanidhi made this appeal at a massive public meeting organised on the occasion of his golden jubilee in the state Assembly.

Observing that inter-state river disputes could be solved only by inter-linking of rivers, Mr Karunanidhi appealed to them to lay the foundation stone for the river-linking project.

''I am asking this as a gift on this occasion, not for me, but for the benefit of the people of the country,'' he said.

Offering his felicitations at the public meeting, Dr Singh hailed Mr Karunanidhi as one of the pillars of country's polity, a great patriot and a nation builder.

''I have come here to salute a great son of Tamil Nadu and a great son of India,'' he said and added that ''Mr Karunanidhi's name will ever be written in gold in the history of Tamil Nadu and in the history of our nation.'' Ms Sonia, who is also the AICC President, assured the people that all the promises made in the Common Minimum Programme, including women's quota and 27 per cent reservation for OBCs and an amicable solution to the inter-state river water disputes, would be fulfilled.

Mr Karunanidhi's completion of 50 years in the state Assembly and his undefeated run in the elections were an unique feat as his victories in various elections had come during turbulent times in the history of the state politics.

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