Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M Karunanidhi, who turned 84 on Sunday, said he favoured a conference of the chief ministers of southern states to discuss linking of peninsular rivers.
   He said in a birthday message that his wish was for the linking of Indian rivers and for making Tamil one of the official languages of the country.
   Talking to reporters at Anna Arivalayam after receiving best wishes from leaders of the DMK and its alliance partners and thousands of partymen, Mr Karunanidhi said he discussed linking of rivers with Prime Minister Manmonah Singh during his last visit to New Delhi and it was for the Centre to call a meeting of the chief ministers of southern states as the first step towards linking peninsular rivers. He said linking of rivers would promote national unity and foster good-neighbourly relations between the states.
   Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Tamil Nadu Governor S S Barnala conveyed their greetings to Mr Karunanidhi over telephone.  Among those who greeted him in person was Union Minister Oscar Fernandes.  The Maran brothers, Kalanidhi and Dayanidhi, who have become persona non grata after their feud with the Karunanidhi family came out in the open, were absent.