Honouring freedom fighters is top priority for the government: Karunanidhi

DMK government accorded high priority to honouring persons from the state who had fought for India's independence and the development of the state and Tamil language, chief minister M Karunanidhi said today.

In his address after launching a commemorative stamp in honour of freedom fighter ''Rebel'' Muthuramalinga Sethupathy, Karunanidhi said Tamil Nadu was a pioneer in this regard.

''We have not only unveiled statues of leaders or named buildings after them or built their memorials but we have also taken steps and ensured the Centre released commemorative stamps and postal covers in their honour,'' Karunanidhi said.    He recalled the various steps taken by the DMK government at different times and said today's event was yet another effort in that direction.

Recalling the contributions of Sethupathy, Karunanidhi said the former,hailing from the royal family of Ramanathapuram, had defied the British on various issues including turning down a request for tax exemption for their goods passing through his region, prompting them to add the epithet ''rebel'' before his name.