The 94th birth anniversary celebrations of veteran Congress leader K Karunakaran was held at Murali Mandiram in Thrissur, on Thursday.
Defence Minister A K Antony inaugurated the celebrations organised by K Karunakaran Smaraka Kendram, in the presence of Ramesh Chennithala, president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee.
While walking down the memory lane, Antony said that though he persistently opposed Karunakaran all through his political career, he had a good rapport with him all the while. Terming Karunakaran ‘an amazing and multi-faceted personality’ he said, “it will be unjust if we forget Karunakaran’s achievements that contributed in a big way towards the development of the state.” It was his practical sense and speed that together made him an unparalleled administrator, he said.
Projects such as the Nedumbassery airport and Jawaharlal Nehru stadium were the result of his will power. There were several projects that met with stiff opposition from various quarters. However, all those projects were later accepted wholeheartedly in the march of time. He never took back his feet off his dream projects when they faced stiff opposition. It was his rare quality, he said.
Antony offered floral tributes at the Smrithi Mandapam of Karunakaran in the morning.
“Karunakaran was a leader who was praised even by his political opponents,” said Chennithala, delivering the presidential address at the function.
MPs P C Chacko, K P Dhanapalan, DCC president V Balaram, Mayor I P Paul, BJP district president B Gopalakrishnan, Muslim League district president C H Rasheed, Kerala Congress (M) district president M P Pauly, K Karunakaran Smaraka Kendram general secretary Ibrahimkutty Kallar, UDF district chairman M P Bhaskaran Nair, former minister K P Viswanathan and Ex MLA A M Paraman also spoke at the function. Guruvayoor Devaswom Chairman T V Chandra Mohan welcomed the gathering, while C N Govindan Kutty proposed a vote of thanks.