TN Cong to launch week-long campaign against corruption from July 13

Chennai, Jul 6 (PTI) TNCC will launch a week-long statewide mass campaign, 'Lanjam Thavirpir Nenjam Nimir' (Avoid Bribery, Hold Head High), starting July 13 to create public awareness against corruption, senior party leader S Peter Alphonse announced on Monday. Addressing a press meet here, Alphonse said while the Chief Minister intends to provide a corruption-free administration, such a goal cannot be achieved by the government alone and needs to be transformed into a people's movement. To facilitate this, Congress workers will reach out to the public for a week to explain the societal and personal losses caused by bribery and corruption. The campaign will commence on July 13 at Marina Beach with the unveiling of a large sand sculpture of former Chief Minister K Kamaraj by the TNCC president. The sculpture will feature the words "Karaipadaatha Kai" (Unstained Hand) and the main campaign tagline, Alphonse told reporters here. The press meet was called after the scheduled executive meet chaired by TNCC chief Manickam Tagore. On the morning of July 15, the TNCC chief will formally launch the anti-corruption slogan at the entrance of Kamaraj's residence in Virudhunagar, Alphonse added. Later that day, a massive public meeting will be held in the Gudiyatham assembly constituency, the historical seat from where Kamaraj won his first by-election to become the Chief Minister. As part of the initiative, a mass signature drive will be conducted from July 17 to 19 at major public gathering spots across the state. Large cloth banners bearing Kamaraj's portrait and the anti-corruption slogan will be placed by various district, town, and circle Congress committees, where citizens will be invited to affix their handprints and signatures. The campaign will conclude in Madurai on July 19 with a mega event where thousands of students will form a human arrangement or "uyir kolam". When viewed from above, the student formation will depict the portrait of Kamaraj along with the campaign's anti-corruption slogan, said Alphonse. PTI JR JR ROH