DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Saturday joined issue with Chief Minister Jayalalithaa over her government's decision to celebrate the Tamil New Year on the first day of Chithirai instead of first day of Thai, saying it was nothing but one of the many conspiracies to undo the achievements of the DMK Government.
In a statement here, Mr. Karunanidhi disputed Ms. Jayalalithaa's claim that Tamil months had been named after the stars under which the full moon day fell, pointing out that barring Chithirai and Karthigai, no other month had been named after the stars.
“In Masi, the full moon day falls on Magam. The month is not called Magam. In Panguni, it falls on Uthiram, but the month is not called as Uthiram,” Mr. Karunanidhi said.
He said the Sentamizh Sorpirappiyal Peragaramudali (Classical Tamil Etymological Dictionary) prepared during her government in 2004 had clearly said Thai is the first month of Tamil era.
“She has written the foreword for the book. Those who prepared her speech should have shown the reference to her,” he quipped.
Reacting to Ms. Jayalalithaa's stand that the DMK Government changed the New Year Day through legislation even though people had not benefitted from it, Mr. Karunanidhi wondered who Ms. Jayalalitaha had asked before changing it again.
“Can we ask who are being benefited by the change now?”
Mr. Karunanidhi said Ms. Jayalalithaa was not able to stomach the credit given to him for his success in getting classical language status to Tamil and was out to undo the achievement of the DMK Government.
