DMK patriarch and former Tamil Nadu chief minister, M Karunanidhi has been buried at Chennai's Marina Beach near his mentor CN Annadurai's grave. His body was taken to Chennai's Marina Beach for burial from Rajaji Hall. A huge crowd of supporters joined the funeral procession. This was after the Madras High Court granted permission for Karunanidhi's burial at Marina beach. The DMK patriarch was buried at Anna Square memorial. Senior political leaders like Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu were present at the burial ground for the funeral.
M Karunanidhi died on Tuesday in Chennai. He was 94. Actor Rajinikanth and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited his house. The Tamil Nadu government announced a seven-day mourning in his honour.
Here are the highlights from Karunanidhi's funeral:
M #Karunanidhi, a towering figure in Tamil Nadu politics, was given a state funeral and buried at Chennai's #MarinaBeach today, in the presence of the country's top politicians.
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 8, 2018
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DMK chief M #Karunanidhi was buried at Chennai's #MarinaBeach today, in the presence of family and top politicians of the country.
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 8, 2018
His casket said, "A person who continued to work without rest, now takes rest."
Read more here: https://t.co/MWefIRF1kJ
(📷 credit: ANI) pic.twitter.com/kMUsGMiLDg
Family members pay their last respects to former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister #Karunanidhi at Chennai's #MarinaBeach; burial to take place, shortly
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 8, 2018
Special coverage on: https://t.co/hMlRpgrUU6 pic.twitter.com/sRq39fOZOm
He can never die
This land, Our kalaignar's land"
Thousands at Chennai's #MarinaBeach to bid farewell to DMK chief #Karunanidhi.
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 8, 2018
Follow coverage here: https://t.co/hMlRpgrUU6 pic.twitter.com/cgsVCmd0Zq
Last rites of DMK's #Karunanidhi being performed at Chennai's #MarinaBeach. He will be buried close to memorials of rival Jayalalithaa and mentor Annadurai.
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 8, 2018
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#Karunanidhi's funeral procession reaches Chennai's #MarinaBeach. He will be buried between the memorials of his mentor CN Annadurai and his lifelong rival J Jayalalithaa.
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 8, 2018
Follow special coverage here: https://t.co/hMlRpgak2y pic.twitter.com/1LKQByOhot
Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Trinamool's Derek O'Brien and others present at Chennai's #MarinaBeach for #Karunanidhi's burial
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 8, 2018
(📸credit: ANI)
Special coverage on: https://t.co/hMlRpgrUU6 pic.twitter.com/1DXh6A2KTn
#JustIn | @mkstalin and @KanimozhiDMK reach Chennai's #MarinaBeach for DMK patriarch #Karunanidhi's burial.
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 8, 2018
The five-time Tamil Nadu chief minister died Tuesday evening.
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"For me, Kalaignar's loss is very personal. He always showed me great kindness and consideration, which I can never forget. He was like a father figure to me," she wrote in the letter.
"We shall not see the like of Kalaignar again, and our nation is poorer without his wise statesmanship, and his dedication to our country and our people".
#Karunanidhi fought for social justice all his life...I pray that his family gets the strength to bear with this loss, says Rashtriya Janata Dal's (RJD) Tejashwi Yadav pic.twitter.com/s1cFO2gQXM
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 8, 2018
Sobbing family members, including the late leader's sons M K Stalin and Tamizharasu, are present in the procession.
Hundreds of people sporting black shirts and carrying pictures and banners of the late leader followed the hearse.
Karunanidhi's body is draped in the national flag.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu paid rich tribute to M Karunanidhi. He said nobody could fill this gap.
'We lost a great leader, nobody can fill this gap', said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu after paying his last respects to #Karunanidhi, earlier today pic.twitter.com/0MdmB0hPMT
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 8, 2018
#Karunanidhi was a national icon, one of the great leaders of our country, says Congress' Ghulam Nabi Azad
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 8, 2018
Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi who died Tuesday evening, will be buried at Chennai's #MarinaBeach today pic.twitter.com/Q9EHZ3zRMj
DMK's M #Karunanidhi was the last of Tamil Nadu's politicians with a colossal mass following. The five-time chief minister died Tuesday evening and will be buried at Chennai's Marina Beach.
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 8, 2018
Read more here: https://t.co/yMX10H8mn8 pic.twitter.com/2ZCzyDgwoj
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and senior party leader Prakash Karat, CPI national secretary D Raja, former chief ministers of Kerala and Uttar Pradesh, Oommen Chandy and Akhilesh Yadav respectively, were among the leaders who paid tribute to the DMK leader.
Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister #Karunanidhi's body being moved to Chennai's #MarinaBeach for burial
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 8, 2018
Special coverage on: https://t.co/hMlRpgrUU6 pic.twitter.com/RsWS9bUhxa
#Karunanidhi's body being taken to Chennai's #MarinaBeach for funeral. The five-time Tamil Nadu Chief Minister will be buried next to his mentor CN Annadurai
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 8, 2018
Special coverage on: https://t.co/hMlRpgrUU6 pic.twitter.com/eeT19iV8Ou
All the lawmakers paid their tributes to the DMK leader who passed away on Tuesday evening at the age of 94 years.
"Karunanidhi considered his conscience as his God. This is a very strong message at a time when the society is being divided in the name of religion," Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said.
"Not only did he accept our invitation, but also evinced keen interest in our activities and needs," he said.
"We told him about non-availability of a community school in the Tamil-dominated Dharavi area. We also told him that lack of funds was a major factor in construction of the school," he said.
"He asked senior party members to do the needful and ensure that the school is opened. Due to his proactive support, our branch got enough funds which not only helped us build the school, but also purchase office space and books for the school library," he added.
- He requested the cadre to remain calm, and said he did not want anything for himself
- All I want is a fitting tribute to Kalaignar, said MK Stalin
- Those who are in power are trying to create chaos, but you have all shown the strength of the cadre, he said.
- MK Stalin appealed to everyone to maintain peace
Yesterday, Mamata Banerjee went to pay respects to Karunanidhi at their residence. She spoke of him with high regard and said he was the senior most leader & politician, legendary figure. She also mourned for the loss.
#WATCH: PM Narendra Modi talks to DMK leaders MK Stalin & Kanimozhi, after paying last respects to M #Karunanidhi at #RajajiHall in Chennai. pic.twitter.com/cEiwjEdNbz
- ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2018
He later consoled the DMK chief's family members, including his wife Rajathi and son M K Stalin. He spoke with them briefly and gently patted MK Stalin on the back in an apparent gesture of consolation.
Incidentally, he was never a member of the Parliament.
My thoughts are with the family and the countless supporters of Karunanidhi Ji in this hour of grief. India and particularly Tamil Nadu will miss him immensely. May his soul rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/7ZZQi9VEkm
- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 7, 2018
Tamil Nadu Government states in its counter affidavit that DMK chief Karunanidhi himself didn't allot land for former CM Janaki Ramachandran after understanding the protocol manual when Karunanidhi was the CM.
VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan pays last respects to former Tamil Nadu CM M #Karunanidhi at Chennai's Rajaji Hall. pic.twitter.com/yveGqo7zp3
- ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2018
