Karunanidhi pays glowing tributes to Mahatma

Chennai, Oct 2 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi led the people of the state in paying glowing tributes to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, on the occasion of his 138th birth anniversary today.

Governor S S Barnala and Mr Karunanidhi, accompanied by his ministerial colleagues, paid floral tributes to the statue of the Mahatma at Marina.

Elsewhere in the state, bhajans, spinning of charka, distribution of welfare assistance to the poor, launch of Khadi special sale and rallies for world peace marked the celebrations.

After garlanding the Gandhi statue, the Chief Minsiter administered Gandhi pledge to ministers and senior officials at the secretariat in Fort St George.

The Chief Minsiter administered the pledge ''to work for an India in which the poorest shall feel that it is their country and all communities shall live in perfect harmony,'' marking the centenary of Gandhi's Satyagraha movement in South Africa-'Celebration of International Day of Non-violence'.

After inaugurating the Khadi special rebate sales at Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan here, the Governor said people should take to wearing Khadi and Khader items and use of Khadi and village industries products.

''This should be made a mass movement. I am sure that this would improve the livelihood of a large number of artisans and rural people,'' he said.

To promote world peace, State Information Minister Parithi Ilamvazhuthi flagged off a cycle rally, participated by school and college students, from Gandhi statue at Marina. Later, Mr Ilamvazhuthi inaugurated an exhibition at Gandhi Mandapam.

The Gandhi-Kamaraj Prohibition Propoganda Committee organised spinning of Charka near the Gandhi statue, where school students rendered devotional and patriotic songs.

Leaders of various political parties, including Union Ministers E V K S Elangovan, G K Vasan, TNCC President M Krishnasamy, Congress Legislature Party Leader D Sudarsanam, PMK Leader G K Mani and All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi leader and actor Sarath Kumar garlanded the statue of Mahatma Gandhi.

UNI