Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday led a sea of mourners in paying homage to DMK patriarch and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi whose DMK won a major legal battle for his last resting place on the Maina Beach here.
Lakhs of emotionally charged people from all over Tamil Nadu gathered near Rajaji Hall, the British-built banquet hall in the sprawling government estate, where the 94-year-old Karunanidhi's body lay in state wrapped in the national tricolour.
DMK cadres and people belonging to all ages cried their eyes out in recognition of their leader's service to the poor and oppressed with pioneering welfare schemes. Thousands of police personnel deployed near Rajaji Hall had a difficult time keeping the crowds under check.
Modi, who flew from Delhi in a special plane, led a host of dignitaries from politics, cinema and various other fields to pay respect to the late DMK President after laying a wreath on the body.
After going around the casket in which the body was kept, the Prime Minister patted M.K. Stalin, Karunanidhi's son and political heir, and his daughter Kanimozhi, an MP, and comforted them with words of solace.
After exchanging a few words with them, Modi also comforted other family members and left.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan.
Modi later tweeted that Karunanidhi dedicated himself to Tamil Nadu and to the interest of the poor and the depressed. "Though he is dead, he lives in the heart of crores of people."
As the two Houses of Parliament paid homage to the last link of the Dravidian era and adjourned for the day, the central government observed a day of national mourning. The national flag flew half-mast and all government functions were cancelled for the day.
Leaders from national parties, including Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, former CPI-M General Secretary Prakash Karat, former Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy and CPI leader D. Raja, were also at the Rajaji Hall to pay their respects.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee flew into Chennai on Tuesday night and visited the Gopalapuram residence to pay her last respects. Several other national leaders were headed to Chennai.
Karunanidhi's body was brought to Rajaji Hall early on Wednesday after it was kept at Gopalapuram and in the house of Kanimozhi for public to pay homage.
Governor Purohit, Chief Minister K. Palaniswami, his deputy O. Paneerselvam, cabinet ministers and leaders and people from all walks of life filed past the mortal remains.
After a tense overnight drama, the DMK on Wednesday morning won a major legal battle when the Madras High Court allowed the burial of Karunanidhi at Marina Beach.
The High Court bench comprising of acting Chief Justice Huluvadi G. Ramesh and Justice S.S. Sundar turned down the arguments of the state government and rejected its order allotting a two-acre burial site on Sardar Patel Marg besides the memorial of late Chief Ministers C. Rajagopalachari, K. Kamaraj and Bhaktavatsalam.
DMK leader and lawyer Kannadasan told reporters that the court also asked the government to make arrangements for the burial.
As the judges gave the order, an emotional Stalin broke down on hearing the news and so did top leaders including Duraimurugan, A. Raja and Kanimozhi.
Chief Minister for five times and leader of the DMK for 50 long years, the DMK stalwart, one of India's most experienced politicians, breathed his last owing to age-related ailments in a private hospital here on Tuesday evening.
There was a complete shutdown in the city and across the state as the government declared a public holiday as a mark of respect to Karunanidhi.
Private bus operators stopped their services to and from Chennai till Wednesday evening. However, people from different parts of the state were reaching Chennai using other modes of transport.
Jiten accuses RO of West Parliamentary seat for being ‘biased’ in election process; writes ECI
The Leader of Opposition and also the CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury on Thursday accused the Returning Officer of the West Parliamentary constituency of the Lok Sabha Dr Vishal Kumar over his ‘discriminatory’ attitude towards the opposition parties.
MHA extends AFSPA in parts of Arunachal and Nagaland for 6 more months
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in certain districts of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for another six months with effect from April 1, officials said on Thursday.
Arunachal was, is, and will remain an integral part of India: MEA
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday that China's repetitive claims on Arunachal Pradesh will not change India's position, and the northeastern state will remain an integral and inalienable part of India.
‘To browbeat and bully others is vintage Congress culture', says PM Modi on lawyers’ letter to CJI
Reacting to an open letter to the Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, which was signed by over 600 advocates on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that to "browbeat and bully others is the vintage culture of the Congress".
'Unacceptable, unwarranted': India again slams US' remarks on Arvind Kejriwal
Calling the US State Department's remarks on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal "unwarranted", India on Thursday said that any such external imputation on the electoral and legal process is completely unacceptable.
Excise policy case: Delhi court extends CM Kejriwal's ED custody till April 1
CM Kejriwal, whose alleged role in the excise policy scam is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), was produced before Special Judge Kaweri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Court on the expiry of his six-day ED remand on Thursday.
CM not above law, says ED as Kejriwal questions rationale behind his arrest
"The case has been going on for two years. The case was filed on August 17. No court has found me guilty. There are no charges against me nor has any case been filed against me. But I have been arrested," he said.
Ukrainian FM arrives in India to build on talks between PM Modi, Volodymyr Zelenskyy
In a first high-level visit by a Ukrainian leader since the start of hostilities with Russia in 2022, Kuleba began his two-day official visit at the invitation of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.