DMK chief M Karunanidhi hails decision to confer Bharat Ratna on Atal Bihari Vajpayee

CHENNAI: DMK President M Karunanidhi today welcomed the Centre's decision to confer Bharat Ratna on former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee and demanded that the honour also be conferred on Dravidian veteran E V Ramasamy, popularly known as Periyar, and former Chief Minister Annadurai.

He said Vajpayee had great love for him and hailed the Centre's decision to confer the award on him.

Without mentioning Madan Mohan Malviya, also chosen for the award, Karunanidhi said he was extending his greetings to the "leaders" for being chosen for the country's highest civilian honour.

Karunanidhi said he had written to President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 24 urging that the Bharat Ratna be conferred on Annadurai. "I once again insist the President and Prime Minister to confer the honour on Periyar and Annadurai and honour Tamil Nadu and the Dravidian movement," he said in a statement.