Chennai:Â The DMK today demanded conferrment of Bharat Ratna, posthumously, on former party president and five time Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.
A resolution to this effect, moved by Rajya Sabha MP Trichy N Siva, was unanimously adopted at the general council meeting of the DMK held here.
The resolution hailed him as an unparalleled writer, a fine orator, able administrator and a multi-faceted personality and said Tamils not only in Tamilnadu, but also across the World wanted the Centre to honour Karunanidhi with the country’s highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna.
“The Central government should honour this demand,” it said, amid thunderous applause from the general council members.
It said Karunanidhi had served as the Member of the Assembly for a record 60 years, by winning 13 Assembly elections and twice as Member of the the Legislative Council.
Stating that Karunanidhi has created a history which was never scripted by any one, the resolution said he had served as the PWD Minister in the Cabinet headed by DMK founder C N Annadurai and later served as Chief Minister for five times.
It also said he had served as Chief Minister for a record 19 years, a feat not achieved by any one other leader than Karunanidhi and also recalled the key roles played by him in the State and National politics.
The resolution also recalled the speeches of leaders of various political parties at a memorial meeting organised by the DMK, recalling his achievements and stressed that he should be conferred with the Bharat Ratna.
The meeting also adopted resolutions condoling the deaths of Karunanidhi, former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee and former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and others, including former Tamilnadu Governor Surjith Singh Barnala, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Kerala flood victims and to 13 Anti-Sterlite protestors, who were killed in police firing in Thoothukudi on 22 May.
It also announced solatium to those who lost lives after coming to know about the demise of Karunanidhi.