Following the demise of senior politician and DMK patriarch, M Karunanidhi, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry have announced a mourning period of seven days starting today, and a public holiday on August 8.
The five-time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu died of age-related complications at Kauvery Hospitals, Chennai earlier this evening. He was 94.
His mortal remains were taken to his Gopalapuram residence. Later, the body will be kept at Rajaji Hall from 11 am tomorrow for the public to pay tribute.
Soon after the announcement of his death, all roads leading to Karunanidhi’s Gopalapuram residence were shut down, the state police were mobilised, and fire and rescue personnel were asked to stay on alert. No vehicle entries were allowed without ID checks.
The Government of India declared that the National Flag will fly at half mast tomorrow in Delhi, all the state capitals and throughout Tamil Nadu. It has also been decided to accord state funeral tomorrow in Chennai and national mourning has been declared for tomorrow.
National flag to fly at half mast tomorrow in Delhi&all state capitals & throughout the state of Tamil Nadu. It has also been decided to accord state funeral tomorrow in Chennai and national mourning has been declared for tomorrow: Government of India #Karunanidhi
— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2018
Interstate bus services operated by the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation to Chennai were cancelled, as were movie shows across the city. The Karnataka government has declared one day state mourning for tomorrow.
It is said that none of the party members and other MLAs were allowed to visit the hospital in order to maintain law and order in the state. Working President of the DMK and son of M Karunanidhi, MK Stalin, appealed to DMK workers to maintain peace and discipline. He also thanked the doctors and the management team at Kauvery Hospital.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government seems to have denied the DMK’s request to lay their leader to rest at Marina beach, which is also the resting place of DMK founder CN Annadurai, and AIADMK leaders MGR and Jayalalithaa. The government has cited legal restrictions and has instead allotted two acres of space near Guindy. “It is not only our wish, but also our leader’s wish that he should be buried near Anna’s tomb. Our working President MK Stalin has met CM Edappadi K Palanisamy in person to insist that he be buried there,” said Durai Murugan, Deputy Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. Reports suggest that DMK and Karunanidhi’s family will take the legal route to settle the matter on his memorial.
Madras High Court acting Chief Justice Huluvadi G. Ramesh agrees to hear by 10:30 pm today a case against denial of burial land by Tamil Nadu Govt at Marina beach for #Karunanidhi pic.twitter.com/gml5ttBFv0
— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2018
Ghulam Nabi Azad, member of the Congress party, said that the Tamil Nadu government should rise above politics. “Kalaignar should be given his due. He deserves rightful place even after his demise,” he said.
TN Govt should not play politics. On such occasions, Govt & parties should be above politics. #Kalaignar should be given his due. He deserves rightful place even after his demise: Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress, on TN Govt denies land for memorial of #Karunanidhi at Marina beach pic.twitter.com/llBDvw4xZY
— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2018
Various politicians and celebrities expressed their condolences at the demise of the veteran politician. Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Edappadi K Palaniswami, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President Amit Shah, Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee actors Rajinikanth, T Rajender, Sivakumar and many others expressed their grief.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi are scheduled to visit Chennai to pay their respects to M Karunanidhi.
Read: M Karunanidhi Obituary: The Man Who Changed The Face Of Tamil Nadu, One Script At A Time
