Chennai : DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi was buried next to mentor CN Annadurai with state honour on Wednesday at Marina beach.
The family performed last rites at the beach. Leaders and supporters paid their final respect. The five-time chief minister passed away on Tuesday at the age of 94.
The veteran politician was admitted in Kauvery Hospital in the city two weeks ago, where he was being treated by a panel of expert doctors. His body was taken to his Gopalapuram residence last night, after which it was shifted to Rajaji Hall. Several political leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, paid their last respects to Karunanidhi.
Several political leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, paid their last respects to Karunanidhi.
The Madras High Court granted permission to bury Karunanidhi behind Anna Samadhi — the memorial of C N Annadurai — on Marina beach. This comes after several arguments against or in favour of the matter in the court. The order led to emotional scenes at Rajaji Hall, as Karunanidhi’s son Stalin and senior leaders broke into tears. The Madras High Court which held a late-night hearing on a plea by DMK’s lawyers took up the case at 8 am this morning.
Funeral procession
Two people died and 30 others suffered injuries in a stampede at Rajaji Hall where former Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi’s mortal remains were kept for the public to pay homage to him.
The stampede happened around 11.15am when police were letting people enter Rajaji Hall premises in batches.
There was a sudden rush, and many people fell down. Others who were just behind them fell on them.
The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday evening refused Marina burial for DMK chief M Karunanidhi, citing legalities. Instead, the state offered the family two acres of land near Gandhi Mandapam, Rajaji and Kamarajar memorials in Guindy.
The injured people were sent to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, where two seriously injured people – a woman and a man — died. The deceased woman has been identified as Shenbagam, 60, of MGR Nagar. The man was yet to be identified.
Earlier, two groups of DMK cadre fought with each other after a verbal duel. They exchanged blows. Two injured party workers were sent to a private hospital.