DMK President M Karunanidhi turned 94 on Saturday and party leaders and cadres gathered in large numbers outside his residence to greet the leader. The senior leader will not be making a public appearance owing to his health conditions as per doctor's advice.
However, the occasion was a political show of strength with Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, CPI (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, NCP leader Sharad Yadav and Trinamool Congress’ Derek O’ Brien gathered for DMK patriarch’s birthday celebrations.
Rahul Gandhi Lashes Out Against the Modi Government
At his birthday celebrations, Karunanidhi's son and DMK’s working president MK Stalin said:
This government is all out to crush opposition, that’s why we have gathered here... If we had opposed Hindi, would we invite Nitish Kumar? Many leaders from Hindi heartland have come here, what does it show?MK Stalin
Along with praising Karunanidhi, Rahul Gandhi also lashed out against the Modi government, saying:
When Karunanidhi ji speaks, it isn’t only he speaking. When he opens his mouth, it is the voice of people of TN that he is speaking... We’ll not let RSS and Narendra Modi impose one idea in country. We’ll never allow silencing of more than billion Indian voices.Rahul Gandhi
Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar predicted that the DMK would form the government in the next assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.
I am fully confident that Stalin will become the next leader of Tamil Nadu and hopefully implement prohibition.Nitish Kumar
President, Vice President Wish Karunanidhi
On the occasion, Stalin went to his father's Gopalapuram residence here to greet him. President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari and other leaders greeted Karunanidhi on his birthday.
The Dravidian veteran was first elected to the state Assembly from Kulithalai in then undivided Tiruchirappally in 1957. He has not lost a single election he contested in his six-decade-long career.
(With inputs from ANI)
(Source: India Today, CNN-News18)
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