New Delhi: On the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, while paying floral tributes to the former, said that there is no place for Nathuram Godse’s heirs on the Indian soil.
In a tweet, the CM urged the people to take a vow on the death anniversary of Gandhi to uphold unity of the nation and added, “let us take a vow that there is no place in the Indian soil for Godse's heirs and their evil thoughts." The Chief Minister, however, did not explicitly name anyone in his post.
Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi and CM Stalin paid floral tributes to the portrait of Gandhi placed close to a life size statue of the Father of the Nation on the Marina beachfront in Chennai.
Administering a pledge against social evils such as untouchability, the Governor also paid tributes to Gandhi at the Raj Bhavan and observed a 2-minute silence as a mark of respect along with students from the institutions of Harijan Sevak Sangh, and other Raj Bhavan officials.
Ravi hailed Mahatma Gandhi for his charismatic leadership to the Indian freedom movement, unfaltering commitment to truth, non-violence and his dedication to serve the Scheduled Castes and the downtrodden.
Ravi also urged the people to pledge themselves for adhering to Gandhiji’s principles and rendering selfless service to promote fraternity in strengthening and taking the nation on a progressive path," according to a Raj Bhavan release, as reported by news agency PTI.
The Governor further interacted with the students and presented them with Gandhiji's autobiography and sweets. He also advised the authorities to arrange for career counselling for the students.
Led by CM Stalin, the state ministers, Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu and other top government officials took a pledge against untouchability at the Secretariat here on the eve of Gandhiji's death anniversary, also observed as Martyrs' Day, on Saturday.
Similarly, the senior government officials, including district collectors administered the pledge against untouchability to government staff across Tamil Nadu on Martyrs' Day eve.
Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse on January 30, 1948 and the nation marked the 74th death anniversary of the Father of Nation on Saturday.