CHENNAI: Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Saturday said necessary steps would be taken to ensure the protection of the Urdu language. He also announced the setting up of a commissionerate and a welfare board to safeguard the interests of Tamils employed in foreign countries.
In his acceptance speech after getting the Communal Harmony Award, ‘Naanilam Potrum Nallinakka Nayagar Award’, conferred on him by the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) at its State conference held here, Karunanidhi, referring to a representation made at the meet that Urdu language should be protected in view of the implementation of Equitable (Common School) Education plan, he said appropriate steps would be taken to safeguard the Urdu language. A meeting was convened by the Director of School Education on October 27 to deliberate on minority languages and appropriate steps were being to protect them.
Referring to a resolution that a separate department must be established to protect the interests of Tamils working in foreign countries, in line with Kerala and Punjab models, Karunanidhi announced that a commissionerate would be set up to safeguard their interests. The refugee rehabilitation department would be merged with the commissionerate. A welfare board would be set up under the supervision of the commissionerate for the benefit of Tamils employed abroad.
“We will pressure the Centre and succeed in getting a branch of the Aligarh Muslim University in Tamil Nadu,” he said in response to a plea.
He said the Union government was bound by duty to fulfill the recommendation of the Ranganath Misra commission for a quota of 10 per cent to Muslims in employment and education. “When that happens, the plea for enhancement of reservation in Tamil Nadu from 3.5 per cent to 5 per cent would also be realised in the Union quota,” he added.
Union Minister and IUML national chief E Ahamed recalled the ties with the DMK since the days of Quaid-e-Milleth.
Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin said the 3.5-percent reservation for Muslims had benefited them as over 4,000 students had got admission in engineering colleges and 129 in medical colleges.