DMK MP Kanimozhi on Tuesday said that the last few days of the late party leader and her father M. Karunanidhi in hospital presented her an opportunity to recognise M.K. Stalin, her half-brother, as her leader.
“Every cadre takes pride in his/her leader. I also took pride in accepting Thalapathi (Commander — a moniker used to address Stalin) as a leader, especially after watching him in action when Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) was in hospital,” she said, addressing the general council of the party.
Ms. Kanimozhi said that while doctors briefed her and others about Karunanidhi’s deteriorating health condition, what occupied Mr. Stalin’s mind was whether he would be able to get a place inside the Anna mausoleum for the burial of the leader. “All that our father wanted was to be buried near Anna, and Thalapathi called up party leaders to share his apprehension about the place being allotted,” she said.
Hitting out at the AIADMK government, she said it did not commit to providing space at the Anna Memorial for burying Karunanidhi. Mr. Stalin, she said, buried his self-respect and pleaded with the Chief Minister to allot space for the burial there.
She said her brother, who had stood up to protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Tamil Nadu, swallowed his pride and “pleaded with the faceless, accidental Chief Minister” for burial space at the Anna Memorial.
Taking the legal route
Ms. Kanimozhi said that while she and others suggested a sit-in protest on the Marina, Mr. Stalin opted for the legal route to get the space allocated, even though thousands of youth were ready to rally behind him at the time.
“He maintained his equanimity. If he had turned angry, the entire State would have supported him and the youth would have rallied behind him. The situation would have gone out of control and resulted in loss of lives. The AIADMK government would have even resorted to police firing because it has no conscience. All this was prevented because of Thalapathi’s decision. He broke down when the court decided in our favour,” she said.
She said Mr. Stalin had proved a worthy son and leader when he fulfilled Karunanidhi’s desire to be buried next to his political mentor C.N. Annadurai.