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NT Bureau
Chennai, Aug 20:
 

CONSPICUOUS BY HIS PRESENCE: Chief Minister M Karunanidhi speaking at the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's 64th birth anniversary celebrations at the Sathyamoorthy Bhavan in Chennai today. TNCC president M Krishnaswamy, among other Congress leaders, were also present. Photo: K Vijay Anand

        Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today announced that Old Mahabalipuram Road, also known as IT corridor due to the presence of software companies throughout its length, would be renamed as Rajiv Gandhi Salai to perpetuate the memory of the former Prime Minister.

        'Let us all traverse the same path of democracy and take pledge not to deviate from this journey,' said Karunanidhi. He was speaking at Sathyamurthi Bhavan, the TNCC headquarters, on the occasion of the 64th birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi. The Chief Minister unveiled the portrait of former Prime Minister in a function got up by TNCC president M Krishnasamy and addressed the gathering of Congress functionaries and leaders who had thronged the party office.

        Expressing happiness over his visit to Congress office named after freedom fighter Sathyamurthi, the Chief Minister said it was not new for him to participate in Congress functions as he had already accompanied AICC president Sonia Gandhi to Rajiv Memorial at Sriperumbudur recently. Recalling his long association with Congress leader Sathyamurthy, he said that when the latter addressed a party conference at Thirukuvalai, the native of Karunanidhi who was in then Justice Party, both of them met for the first time for a long enduring friendship, though there were ideological differences between the two leaders.

        Paying tributes to Rajiv Gandhi, he said the young leader had sacrificed his life for the country's unity and social integrity. 'I am not going to change my ideology and police after the visit to Sathyamurthi Bhavan. Likewise, the Congressmen need not change their principles on visiting Anna Arivalayam. It is our social customs to protect and preserve our ideological moorings and principles,' he said.

        In spite of differences of opinion, Chief Minister called upon fraternal parties to develop friendly rapport among themselves. Unlike in other States where consensual decisions were being take, in Tamilnadu there was animosity between parties with cadres and leaders not willing to step into the other party offices and felt the attitude should change.

        After the untimely death of Sanjay Gandhi, he had called on the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and consoled her. Referring to the seat rearrangement in Tamilnadu Assembly in 1989, Karunanidhi said that it was undertaken after consulting the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi who advised for such a change in the Assembly seats.

        Following the desire of Rajiv Gandhi to uplift the local bodies and restructure them, Tamilnadu has taken a lead in effective functioning of Panchayats and Municipalities, he said. Chief Minister planted three saplings at the premises to commemorate the occasion.

        TNCC president Krishnasamy presided over the function. Cabinet Ministers Arcot Veerasamy, M K Stalin, Duraimurguan, K Ponmudi, Parithi Illamvazhuthi and Congress leaders were also present at the function.