Veeramani is always first to defend DMK and State govt. from Opposition criticism, says Stalin

‘After Kalaignar passed away, he was instrumental in supporting me in implementing the ‘Dravidian Model’ of governance’

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday hailed Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) president ‘Asiriyar’ K. Veeramani, recalling he had protected him (along with late Chitti Babu) by taking the blows from policemen when he was jailed during the Emergency in 1976.

He added that the DK leader continued to protect him by always being the first to defend the DMK and the State government when criticised by the Opposition.

Speaking at the 90 th birthday celebrations of Mr. Veeramani at Periyar Thidal in Chennai, the Chief Minister said, “Even yesterday (Thursday), he wrote a statement criticising Governor R.N. Ravi for not granting assent to the Bill banning online gambling. I heard he was told that it could have been done after December 2, but he said he was ready to celebrate his birthday in jail.”

Mr. Stalin spoke about how Mr. Veeramani started his activism at a very young age. “He started speaking on the stage in Cuddalore when he was 10. At 11, he spoke at a public meeting in Salem. He presided over another public meeting at Nagapattinam when he was 12. He raised the DK flag in Thiruthiraipoondi at 13, and a log of wood was thrown at him while speaking in Cuddalore at 14. At 25, he wrote the basic idea for the protest against the Indian Constitution, and at 30, he became the editor of Viduthalai.”

The DMK leader added, “After Kalaignar (M. Karunanidhi) passed away, he was instrumental in supporting me in implementing the ‘Dravidian Model’ of governance. He is a lawyer, writer, speaker, leader, activist, journalist, administrator and so on. He has even sung songs along with Nagoor Hanifa and has acted in a scene in one of Kalaignar’s plays. If Kalaignar was alive today, he would have attended this function as a 99-year-old.”

Mr. Stalin also received the K. Veeramani Award For Social Justice from Periyar Pannattu Amaippu in recognition of his commitment and leadership in the practice of the Dravidian Model of social equity and inclusive growth.

MDMK chief Vaiko said Mr. Veeramani got an opportunity to speak at the meeting in Salem in 1944 in which the Justice Party was renamed as the Dravidar Kazhagam. “He seconded one of the resolutions read out by Annadurai. Nobody today could claim to have spoken at that public meeting. He stood by Periyar (E.V. Ramasamy) always even when the split (DK-DMK) happened,” he said.