Governor Surjit Singh Barnala and Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi led the State in paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his 141st birth anniversary.
They offered floral homage to a portrait of Gandhiji near the Gandhi statue on the Marina.
Later, the Governor inaugurated a khadi exhibition and sale at special rebate at the retail outlet of the Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan on Anna Salai here. He stressed the need for spreading the use of khadi among people in urban and rural areas.
Appreciating the Bhavan's move to arrange exhibitions in information technology parks and on the premises of corporate houses, Mr. Barnala called upon the Khadi and Village Industries Board to establish khadi showrooms at prominent places in taluks.
H. Vasanthakumar, MLA, inaugurated the sale by purchasing products. Shambhu Kallolikar, Secretary to Governor, was present.
B. Thulsiraman, secretary of the Bhavan, said the sale would be open till November 4. The rates of discount would vary from 10 to 30 per cent.
Information Minister Parithi Ellamvazhuthi declared open a three-day exhibition on Gandhiji organised by the Department of Information and Public Relations on the Gandhi Mandapam premises. The DIPR and Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity have put up stalls depicting the life of Gandhiji.
In the evening, Mr. Ellamvazhuthi handed over prizes to winners of contests held for school and college students. He and Mr. Ramachandran witnessed cultural programmes. At the Kuralagam here, Khadi Minister K. Ramachandran inaugurated a khadi sale organised by the Board. An official release stated that the rates of discount ranged from 20 to 30 per cent.
