Chennai, Sep 17 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M.K.Stalin
on Sunday led the State in paying floral tributes to Social Reformer and Rationalist
Leader Periyar E.V.Ramasmy, affectionately called as Periyar, on the occasion of
his 145th birth anniversary.
Mr Stalin paid floral tributes to a portrait of Periyar, who is known as the Father of
the Dravidian Movement and Dravidar Kazhagam Founder, in front of his statue at
Vellore, where he is on an official visit.
Later in a social media post, Mr Stalin paid rich tributes to the late social reformer
and said he was dedicating his government to Periyar.
“Periyar’s life itself is a politics of principles. He was a great social reformer having
preached politics based on humanitarianism and self-respect
beyond language, country and religion”, he said.
He has the unique distinction of having witnessed what all he thought has become
law before he died, Mr Stalin said.
Stating that Periyar was the basis for the various schemes envisaged by his government
for women freedom and social equality, the Chief Minister said “like the rule of late Chief
Ministers Perarignar Anna (C.N.Annadurai) and Muthamizh Arignar Kalaignar
(M.Karunanidhi), this Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin’s governance is also dedicated to
Thanthai Periyar’.
Leaders of various political parties across the State also paid rich tributes to the late leader
on the occasion of his birth anniversary.