Chennai, Jan 12 (BPNS)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin on Wednesday called upon unity among the vibrant global Tamil diaspora and urged them to overlook divisions among them. He said that the Tamil diaspora should consider the Tamil Nadu government as their government.
Stalin was addressing the Tamil diaspora during the World Tamil Diaspora Day celebrations organized by the Welfare of Non-Resident Tamils and Rehabilitation Department on Wednesday.
The Chief Minister invited the diaspora to visit Tamil Nadu with their children and to show them the rich Tamil cultural heritage that was in existence for the past 3000 years.
Chief Minister in his address said, “ Many of you may not have the voting rights in Tamil Nadu but you have the right to call this government your government. This was why I had made several announcements in September last for the welfare of Tamil diaspora.”
He called upon the diaspora not to abandon Tamil Nadu and to be rooted in Tamil culture and legacy. He also called the diaspora not to have divisions among other Tamil people and to live united as brothers and sisters in foreign countries and to make maximum use of the situation prevailing in those countries for academic and industrial growth.
Citing the rich heritage of Keeladi and Adichannalur, Stalin said that these were glowing examples of the existence of a rich Tamil culture even before 3000 years. He said that people from Tamil Nadu are spread in several countries across the globe and said that in 30 countries there is a rich presence of Tamilians while in 60 other countries Tamil people are there but with less presence.
He said that the late Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and DMK leader M. Karunanidhi wanted to set up a welfare board for Non-Resident Tamils as early as March 2011 but the government that had succeeded Karunanidhi government did not pursue it further. Stalin said that within five months of coming to power, he had announced the setting up of the board in the state legislative assembly.
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister also said that the state government has been implementing schemes worth Rs 317 crore for the welfare of Sri Lankan Tamils, who came to Tamil Nadu.
