Chennai (PTI): Tamils see people speaking other languages as one among them and boast a natural tendency to maintain a cordial relationship with such people, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said on Sunday.
Greeting Telugus and Kannadigas on the occasion of Ugadi, their New Year, he said that the people of Tamil Nadu never discriminate against outsiders and always treat them as one among them and called for similar gestures from others.
In an apparent reference to protests in Karnataka against the Hogenakkal Integrated Water Project, the DMK leader said the people of the state had always maintained a cordial relationship and goodwill with persons from other states, many of whom have even settled here.
"The Tamil people, speaking the first language of the Dravidian family, see others (non-Tamils) as one among them."
And Chennai, with its cosmopolitan feel, was a standing example to this characteristic of the Tamil culture.
"Persons from almost every other state in India have settled in Chennai and carry out various professional activities, including business and even own property. And there are frequent vistors too. To nobody have the people of the city shown any discrimination, but only showered love and affection on them," he said.
"They extend their cooperation to them and and respect their feelings. Such characteristics show their liberal nature, which is so unique of the Tamils," he said.
"Tamil society expects such atmosphere in other state
