Chennai: An ambulance carries the mortal remains of DMK chief M Karunanidhi for his residence, in Chennai on Tuesday, Aug 7, 2018. (PTI Photo/R Senthil Kumar)(PTI8_7_2018_000323B) Chennai: A controversy has erupted over where Karunanidhi’s mortal remains would be interned with the DMK and his family seeking a place near the Anna Memorial on the sands of the Marina, where his political mentor C N Annadurai was buried, and the government unwilling to concede it citing some litigation.
On Tuesday afternoon, when his health was critical, three of his family members – Alagiri, Stalin and Kanimozhi — along with senior DMK leaders personally met Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and urged him to allow them to perform his last rites at the Anna Memorial. They cited a precedent – the government had allowed his rival and former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to be interned near the MGR Memorial, which lies adjacent to the Anna Memorial.
That set the stage for a courtroom drama and DMK moved the Madras High Court against the government’s decision. Acting Chief Justice Huluvadi Ramesh held a special hearing at the CJI’s residence on Tuesday, past midnight. Coastal regulation zone norms do not permit fresh construction or memorials to come up within 500 metres of the water front. The DMK is hoping this would not be a problem as three petitioners have withdrawn their public interest petitions without assigning any reason. The high court also dismissed the petitions as withdrawn.
Earlier in the evening, DMK headquarters secretary Duraimurugan told journalists that Stalin had cited Karunanidhi’s contributions to Tamil society and sought a place next to his political mentor as his final resting place. “The government is yet to respond,” he said. Shortly after this, Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyananthan explained the government’s position on this. She said the government was willing to offer a two acre site near the Gandhi Mandapam (where the memorials of former Chief Ministers Rajagopalachariar and Kamaraj are located) for Karunanidhi’s final resting place. It said a burial at Anna Square cannot be permitted due to legal complications.
DMK supporters pulled down the barricades put by the police outside the Kauvery Hospital and smashed some of them as they protested against the government’s decision. Police personnel in anti-riot gear were seen chasing them away. There is no official word yet from the DMK about when the last rites of the leader will take place. Incidentally, the ruling AIADMK is going to build a memorial modelled on a phoenix to symbolise Jayalalithaa’s grit and political comebacks. To be surrounded by landscaped gardens, the memorial is expected to cost Rs. 50 crore.