Flower show, people’s movement mark MK’s 99th birth anniversary
Distribution of awards instituted in the name of Dravidian icon and former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi by Chief Minister MK Stalin, a breathtaking flower show here and a people’e movement being launched marked the former’s 99th birth anniversary celebrations.
The spectacular flower show was organised for the first time by the Horticulture Department. The three-day event was inaugurated by Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni MLA and the Chief Minister’s son, Udhayanidhi Stalin. The show at Kalaivanar Arangam will be open between 9 am and 8 pm.
Under the people’s movement, cleanliness drives and awareness programmes will be undertaken in cities with public participation, including NGOs, resident welfare associations, national green corps, school and college students. The programmes will be undertaken in 21 Corporations, 138 Municipalities and 490 town panchayats on second and fourth Saturdays. Stalin also distributed pamphlets on cleanliness.
The CM also paid floral tributes to his father at his 16-feet high bronze statue installed on the campus of the Omandurar multi-super specialty hospital. Flower petals were showered on the huge statue. Healso visited the Marina beach front where the memorials of Karunanidhi and former CM CN Annadurai are situated and paid his respects. He presented the ‘Kalaignar Kalaithurai Vithagar’ award, carrying a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh and a citation to renowned screen writer Aaroor Das and the ‘Kalaignar Ezhuthukol’ award to senior journalist I Shanmuganathan. He also handed over house pattas to six Tamil scholars who had won various literary awards.
VELLORE/TIRUCHY: Several functions and events were organised to mark the 99th birth anniversary celebrations of former DMK chief minister M Karunanidhi in integrated Vellore and Tiruvannamalai districts on Friday.
Vellore collector Kumaravel Pandian planted saplings in the DMK higher secondary school and participated in the “My garbage, my responsibility, my city, my pride” cleanliness campaign in the Vellore corporation office. Vellore mayor Sujatha Anand and commissioner S Ashok Kumar were also present during the event.
Kumaravel Pandian also bicycled for a short distance as part to mark the world cycling day on Friday.
In Tiruvannamalai district collector B Murugesh planted saplings in the municipal office and led a mass cleaning drive.
A similar drive was also undertaken by Tirupattur collector Amar Kuswaha in the Tirupattur peria eri. MLAs S Devaraji and A Nallathambi also participated.
In Ranipet district collector Baskara Pandian and handlooms minister R Gandhi garlanded a portrait of Karunanidhi, distributed government largesse and also received petitions from the public.
In the delta region, distribution of sweets and cleanliness drive marked the day. Ministers, officials and DMK functionaries garlanded the statue of the late leader.
The cadre placed portraits of Karunanidhi at several locations across the delta districts and paid floral tribute. They distributed sweets and some functionaries distributed welfare assistance to the beneficiaries.
DMK functionaries also garlanded Karunanidhi’s statue and raised slogans hailing him.