Speaking at a meeting organised to commemorate the birth anniversary of K Kamaraj, he said, “In Kamaraj’s rule, an honest IAS officer like (C) Umashankar would never have been harassed in revenge. Also, university vice-chancellors would have been appointed on the basis of merit and knowledge, not after payment of Rs 2 to 3 crore.
Kamaraj (1903-75)went to jail not for misappropriation of assets or corruption, but as a freedom fighter. He could also have given free radios and free rice during his tenure but he did not believe that this would help his people grow in body and mind. So, he gave them free education instead and started the noon-meal scheme,” he said.
Taking a dig at Union Minister for Chemicals M K Alagiri, Elangovan recalled how the current CM Karunanidhi had ridiculed his predecessor (1954-63) for not being able to converse in English with the Queen of England who had paid him a visit.
“It has come full circle now. His (Karunanidhi’s) own son finally said a sentence in English and it made the front page of every newspaper in the country,” he said, with a streak of sarcasm.
He asked why the DMK leadership had not slashed taxes on diesel akin to the move by the Delhi government, so that diesel prices could come down. “They have instead given free colour TVs. But what do you do with them when there is no power? And is it fair to hike power tariffs when there is no power to households,” he asked.
Leaders of the South Chennai district of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, Eegai S Karnan as well as Saidai Ravi, distributed free sarees, dhotis and notebooks for schoolchildren on the occasion.
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