Leaders pay tribute to Kamaraj at new manimandapam in Virudhunagar

Taking pride of his committed role in bringing up the manimandapam, R Sarathkumar, leader, All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi said the new manimandapam was a tribute to Kamaraj on his birth anniversary. This day was also celebrated as ‘Educational Development Day’ in recognition of his contribution to the development of education.

“It gives me immense pleasure that the manimandapam, my lifetime ambition, was inaugurated and opened to public. Kamaraj’s legacy should be remembered forever and the younger generation should follow suit,” Sarathkumar said.

Against all odds, the manimandapam was built on a sprawling 12 acres along Madurai–Virudhunagar bypass Road, he said. The foundation stone was laid 12 years ago and it took a long time to overcome hurdles to realise what the manimandapam would mean. The manimandapam should not be seen as a facility confined to a leader of a particular community. People irrespective of caste, creed and religion should feel that social equality prevailed whenever they accessed the manimandapam.

While recalling Kamaraj’s life and his struggles, he said the legendary late chief minister lived a life of simplicity and served the poor. He was the one who introduced noon meal system in schools to benefit students, Sarathkumar said. He added that the manimandapam would house museum with portraits depicting life history of Kamaraj, science park for students, meditation centre and a theatre.

Earlier, leaders of political parties, including Sarathkumar paid floral tributes to a life size statue of Kamaraj. The statue showed Kamaraj placing his hands on shoulders of two students. Tamilisai Soundararajan, state unit president of BJP, Kadambur C Raju, Minister for Information and Publicity, LK Sudhish, deputy general secretary of DMDK, NR Dhanabalan, president, Perunthalaivar Makkal Katchi, Vellaiyan, president, Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sanga Peravai, John Pandian, president, Tamilaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam and K Krishnaswamy, president, Puthiya Tamilagam paid tributes.