New Delhi: Defence minister Rajnath Singh released a new coin to commemorate the birth centenary of former Tamil Nadu chief minister Kalaignar M Karunanidhi in Chennai, a PIB press release stated.
Karunanidhi, who served as CM for Tamil Nadu for five terms, was described by Singh as a leader whose role in national governance and advocacy for democratic principles have left an indelible mark on Indian democracy, the release added.
Singh said, “While deeply rooted in Tamil identity, Thiru Karunanidhi never allowed regionalism to undermine the unity of the nation. He understood that the strength of Indian democracy lies in its ability to accommodate diverse voices and identities. His insistence on state rights was a call for a more balanced and equitable distribution of power within the Union. This commitment to federalism is a key aspect of Indianness. India’s diversity is its strength, and the federal structure allows this diversity to flourish within a unified framework.”
The defence minister also praised Karunanidhi’s pioneering reforms towards women’s reservation and upliftment of the marginalised, workers, transgenders and labourers.