DMK Supremo and five-time chief minister of Tamil Nadu, M Karunanidhi, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 94 after battling age- related illness for a long time. His demise has left people across Tamil Nadu and hundreds of DMK cadres in shock and sadness.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi, Nirmala Sitharaman and other politicians reached Chennai today morning to pay final their respects to Karunanidhi. his family members. Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao also paid their homage to the Dravidian stalwart at Rajaji Hall. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, HD Kumaraswamy are also expected to reach the Tamil Nadu capital to pay their respects to the late leader.
As a mark of respect for the five-time chief minister of Tamil Nadu, both Houses of Parliament were adjourned after leaders paid respect to Karunanidhi.
Two people were killed and several injured in a stampede outside Rajaji Hall where thousands of DMK supporters had gathered to get a glimpse of M Karunanidhi. The police resorted to lathicharge after failing to control the crowd. Minor scuffles broke out between police personnel and supporters who thronged Rajaji Hall to pay their last respects to Kalaignar.
DMK working president and Karunanidhi’s son M K Stalin appealed to the crowds to maintain peace and calm. “I am requesting every one of you to keep calm during the final procession. Only if you all are with us, the final procession will happen in time,” he said. He further addes, “I am asking you, as your brother, to disperse,” he added.
Karunanidhi’s final journey will begin at 4 pm. Karunanidhi’s mortal remains will be carried from Rajaji Hall to his final resting place at Marina Beach. Tamil Nadu’s tallest leader will be buried near Anna Samadhi — the memorial of his mentor C N Annadurai.
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