Leaders in TN, Puducherry pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi

Leaders in TN, Puducherry pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi (Eds; rpting dropping words in intro, edits throughout) Chennai/Puducherry, Jan 30 (PTI): Leaders in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry remembered Mahatma Gandhi on his 71st death anniversary Wednesday. In Chennai, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami administered an oath against untouchability at the Secretariat to ministers and officials, including Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan.

Governor Banwarilal Purohit, the Chief Minister, deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and Ministers paid floral tribute to a decorated portrait of Gandhi near his statue on Kamaraj Salai, an official press release said. Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on this day in 1948.

In Puducherry, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy led the union territory in paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial. The Speaker V Vaithilingam, Deputy Speaker V P Sivakolundhu, Ministers, MLAs and heads of different organisations and officials garlanded Gandhi's statue.

Students of Puducherry government-run Bharathiar Palkalaikoodam, a multi-cultural institute, sang patriotic songs on the occasion. Silence was observed for a couple of minutes by those present at the venue.

Earlier, Puducherry Congress Committee president and PWD Minister A Namassivayam paid homage before the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi at the party office..