Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar, who is now the unofficial voice of the state government, had denied the allegations of DMK working president MK Stalin, that the state government acted out of vendetta in not allotting land to former chief minister M Karunanidhi, on the Marina, and said that permission was not given only due to the legal hurdles.

Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar

Chennai:

In a statement, Jayakumar said that Stalin had written in ‘Murasoli,’ party organ of the DMK, that state government denied permission to bury Karunanidhi on Marina beach due to vendetta and at the behest of people controlling the party. Through the write-up Stalin had exhibited venomous thought, he said. 

However, the state government had acted with responsibility in the death of Karunanidhi and though the government does not like to boast on the steps taken in such incidents he is now forced to respond after Stalin made wild allegations. 

He also said that the state had respected Karunanidhi by announcing holiday for schools, colleges and government institutions and had announced government mourning for seven days. Apart from that all the arrangements had been made in Rajaji Hall for supporters to view the body of Karunanidhi.  

The reason why government decided not to give permission to bury his body on the Marine is because of five cases pending in the High Court with the same prayers and to avoid confusions in the funeral ceremony two acres of land was allotted near the Kamaraj memorial, opposite to Anna University. 

He also recalled the opposition of DMK when the state government installed the photo of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa, in the Assembly and memorial for Jayalalithaa on Marina beach. In all these cases DMK acted with vengeance and not the state government, said Jayakumar.  He further accused DMK of amazing huge amount of wealth and questioned the integrity of the party.