Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], July 15 : Tamil Maanila Congress President GK Vasan on Tuesday slammed the DMK goverment on the birth anniversary of K Kamaraj, the former Chief Minister and Congress President, describing his tenure as the "golden rule" during which new schools were opened from cities to villages.
"Kamaraj was a role model for public life. His rule as Chief Minister was called the golden rule. He opened new schools from cities to villages. He wanted all children to study, so he arranged for free meals," Vasan told ANI in his tributes on the birth anniversary of K Kamaraj.
He predicted that the next party (coming to power) is AIADMK, BJP and its allies. The Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu are scheduled in 2026. Vasan also blamed the DMK government for allegedly "deteriorating" the quality of education during their tenure and attacked the government for "burdening" the people with taxes.
"During the DMK government, the condition of education has deteriorated due to the presence of TASMAC shops near schools and colleges. DMK should now close them all. The anti-incumbency wave against DMK is at its peak, and the next party is AIADMK, BJP, and its allies. We will have more parties in the coming months. We will be the next choice of the people. DMK has only created chaos and confusion and burdened people with taxes."
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin paid tribute to K Kamaraj and highlighted Kamaraj's significant contributions to the education sector, particularly his initiative of introducing the mid-day meal scheme in schools.
In a post on X, Stalin said, "That day, what was served in schools was not just lunch; it was the foundation for a century-long dream of education! Thankfully, there were no self-proclaimed geniuses back then saying, "Schools should only provide education; are they hotels to serve food?" That's why Tamil Nadu reaps so many benefits today! Salutations to the great leader Kamarajar, who opened the eyes of education!"
In a video posted on X, CM Stalin paid floral tributes to K Kamaraj's portrait and interacted with the school children present.
Kumaraswami Kamaraj was born humble and poor in a backward area of Tamil Nadu on July 15, 1903. His schooling lasted only six years. At the age of twelve, he was already working as a shop assistant. He was barely fifteen when he heard of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which was the turning point in his life.
Kamaraj was elected to the Madras Legislative Assembly in 1937, unopposed. He was again elected to it in 1946. He was also elected to the Constituent Assembly of India in 1946 and later to Parliament in 1952.
He became Chief Minister of Madras in 1954. In 1963, he suggested to Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, that senior Congress leaders should leave ministerial posts to take up organisational work. This suggestion came to be known as the 'Kamaraj Plan'.
He was honoured posthumously with India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, in 1976.