Don't be complacent, Karunanidhi tells partymen

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JAN. 27. Virtually sending out a message to his party cadres, reminding them of the coming elections, the DMK president and Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, tonight warned them against any complacency.

In the party mechanism or organisational structure, allocation of specific functions did not mean that others should `shut themselves off like islands', Mr. Karunanidhi chided them, speaking at a function at the DMK headquarters here, after giving away the `Kalaignar Awards 2000' instituted by the `Murasoli Trust'.

Emphasising that collective responsibility was the key to party discipline, Mr. Karunanidhi declared that for all the `over- abundance of praise' showered on him for his rise within the party, ``I always continue to be a humble DMK worker.''

Mr. Karunanidhi was visibly upset over the functionaries in- charge of the `Murasoli Trust' being `frugal' in organising the function, to the point of not even displaying the Trust's banner on the stage, particularly when one of the awardees was the Malaysian Public Works Minister, Mr. Datto Samivelu, who had come with his Malaysian friends.

The Award for Distinguished Service to the Tamil Language and Society, each carrying a purse of Rs. 1 lakh and a citation, was earlier presented by Mr. Karunanidhi to the Malaysian Minister, popular Tamil film director, Mr. K. Balachander, and the Tamil poet, Mr. Vairamuthu.

Wondering why the function was got up in a such a bland manner, Mr. Karunanidhi said, he was concerned about it, as the prestige of a 60-year-old Tamil newspaper institution, `Murasoli', which later also became the DMK party organ, was at stake. If some aspect of party work was found wanting, others who might not be in-charge should chip in.

The `Murasoli Trust' formed six years ago was the `first baby' of `Murasoli' and ``I don't wish to see it go astray,'' Mr. Karunanidhi said. It was a chance intervention by him last evening, when he came to attend a wedding at the same venue, that ensured that the external lighting arrangements were continued for today's function also at the Trust's expense, he added.

Even as Mr. Karunanidhi greeted the three award winners and highlighted their achievements, he expressed the hope that the audience would not mind him addressing them sitting owing to his ill-health.

The Union Industries and Commerce Minister, Mr. Murasoli Maran, who read out the citations given to the awardees, said a few weeks back, ``my participation in this function was a question mark, but now I stand before you and I thank one and all who wished me recovery and good health.''

Mr. Samivelu said, he was presenting the prize amount along with his own contribution to set up a department in the Madras University to teach the Malay language. The Malaysian Government has decided to meet its full establishment cost.

The Education Minister, Mr. K. Anbazhagan, felicitated the awardees, while Mr. Balachander and Mr. Vairamuthu said they were overwhelmed by the honour bestowed on them.

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Section  : Southern States
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