'Karunanidhi, a shining example for others'

Chennai, May 12: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's legislative experience was a shining example of a legislator's conduct and behaviour which should be emulated by legislators across the country, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee averred today.

Delivering a special felicitation address in the Tamil Nadu Assembly to commemorate Mr Karunanidhi's golden jubilee in the House, he said ''Mr Karunanidhi's legislative career has been a shining example of such commitment to the people, which should be a beacon for legislators everywhere.'' Expressing concern that people, of late, were getting disillusioned, if not cynical over the way different legislatures were functioning in the country, which was weakening the foundations of our polity and the whole political structure itself, Mr Somnath urged all the legislators of the country to introspect and see whether they were contributing towards strengthening the system or not.

The legislators should also introspect whether they were honouring their electors or not as they were the real masters, he said and added that Mr Karunanidhi's life provides a shining example of a legislator's conduct and behaviour which could be emulated.

He described Mr Karunanidhi as a true people's leader, who had used the hall of the state legislature to effectively articulate the concerns, aspirations and urges of the people.

Mr Chatterjee said the legislative bodies were the most important institutions and the people expect their representatives would discharge their duties with commitment, sincerity and probity. He added that Mr Karunanidhi was respected and revered for his many accomplishments and for his sterling public service by the people of the state.

Mr Karunanidhi is held in high esteem by the nation and his life provides a shining example of a legislator's conduct.

Observing that Mr Karunanidhi was deeply committed to secularism, a progressive social order and other larger national values, Mr Chatterjee said his model of development was an all inclusive one and he views politics as a means for social transformation and a potent instrument for development and growth.

Reeling out various populist schemes launched by Mr Karunanidhi, including free lands to agricultural families, legislation for equal property rights for women, free education to girl child, marriage grant for poor girls, home for homeless, subisidised food grains for the poor, free CTV sets and cooking gas stoves for the poor, Mr Somnath said these were some of the schemes which other states could follow as examples.

''Rehabilitation of beggars and abolition of hand-pulled rickshaws and free distribution of cycle rickshaws are some of the issues which he has proactively addressed and has found solutions for the vulnerable sections of the society,'' he added.

UNI