Lok Sabha Debates
Need To Celebrate The Centenary Year Of Late Shri C.N. Annadurai . on 5 May, 2008
> Title: Need to celebrate the Centenary Year of Late Shri C.N. Annadurai .
SHRI D. VENUGOPAL (TIRUPPATTUR): Perarignar Anna, as he is called late Thiru C.N. Annadurai, the founder leader of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has the distinction to have upheld at a crucial hour in our Nation's history the unity and integrity of the country. Driven by the ideal of social reform when he was Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu he came with a legislation to make 'Self-respect Marriages' legal and that has been upheld by the Supreme Court recently. In order to strengthen the Federal polity of theJndian Union he has seeded the concept of state autonomy which has given rise to the setting up of Inter-State Council by the Union Government. The year 2009 is to be celebrated as the great Anna's centenary year as announced by Government of Tamil Nadu. The centenary celebrations are to commence from the 15th of September this year. All those who have contributed to the National life and the Nation-building must be remembered and revered. Hence I urge upon the Centre to celebrate the same as a year long National Celebration to inculcate the spirit of renaissance in the minds of the younger generation throughout the country. The Union Government must enact law to give legal sanction to 'Self-respect Marriages' apart from issuing a commemorative postal stamp on the eve of the birth centenary of that great leader. I urge upon the Union Government to commence the preparations for the socially relevant Anna centenary celebrations in this era of social justice.