Birthday bash: Karunanidhi accepts partymen's wishes

Chennai, May 22 (UNI) Bowing to the appeals of party leaders and cadres, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) President and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today accepted the grand bash proposed by the party to celebrate his 85th birthday, falling on June three.

In a statement in poetry form here, he asked ''how can I boldly sever ties with party general secretary K Anbazhagan and lakhs of party cadres after they have ordered me to bow to their love.'' It may be recalled Mr Karunanidhi had said that he was not in a mood to celebrate his birthday as he was disgusted with people living in constant fear in the wake of terrorism raising its ugly head and his dream Sethusamudram Shipping Channel project hanging in the balance.

Stating that he would not be in the city on June three, the DMK leader had also said he was upset with being betrayed by those close to him.

Reacting to this, Mr Anbazhagan had exhorted partymen to celebrate the birthday in a grand manner, despite the DMK patriarch's advise and said that though a number of functions were organised by the party, there was nothing like organising functions to celebrate the birthday of Mr Karunanidhi.

Mr Anbazhagan had said the functions were necessary as the literary debates and 'kavi arangams' organised on the occasion would help youngsters in the party to know about the history of the Dravidian movement and the leaders who had sacrificed their lives.

The youth wing of the DMK, led by local Administration Minister M K Stalin, had decided to have month-long grand celebrations to mark the occasion.

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