Karunanidhi laid to rest at Marina Beach
Chennai (Tamil Nadu): Late Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M. Karunanidhi was laid to rest on Wednesday near the iconic Anna Memorial at Marina beach here.
The doyen of Tamil politics was buried beside former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, C. N. Annadurai, in whose memory the Anna Memorial was built.
The ceremony was attended by several high-profile politicians, including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, and Trinamool Congress' Derek O Brien, among others.
In addition, scores of DMK cadres and Kalaignar's well-wishers paid their last respects at Rajaji Hall and also attended the funeral procession.
The national flag was taken off Karunanidhi's body and handed over to his son and DMK working president M. K. Stalin.
The Kalaignar's teary-eyed family members, including daughters Selvi and Kanimozhi, sons Stalin and Muthu, and the Maran brothers, Karunanidhi's grandnephews, also paid their respects to the veteran leader.
Karunanidhi was laid to rest with full state honours, as per the directions issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. His coffin bore the words 'A person who continued to work without rest, now takes rest.'
Earlier today, the Madras High Court ended a political row between the DMK and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)-led state government after the latter had denied permission to bury the five-time chief minister at the Anna Memorial, and instead offered two acres of land at the Gandhi Mandapam.
"The DMK's plea for the burial of Kalaignar's body near Anna memorial has been accepted by the Madras High Court. The court further directed Tamil Nadu government to ensure and establish a memorial for Kalaignar," one of the DMK lawyers said following the order.
In addition, the Supreme Court had dismissed a petition filed by activist Traffic Ramaswamy, who challenged the Madras High Court's order granting permission to bury Karunanidhi at the Marina beach.
Karunanidhi breathed his last on Tuesday in Chennai's Kauvery Hospital after a prolonged illness. He was 94.