Chennai: DMK patriarch and former Tamil Nadu chief minister M. Karunanidhi was buried beside his mentor C N Annadurai on the sands of Marina beach here on Wednesday after his party clinched a midnight legal battle as lakhs of commoners wept, pushed and jostled for space to bid adieu to their leader, causing a stampede that killed two mourners and injured many.
After a two-hour funeral procession covering a distance of less than 3 km headed by the late leader’s son and DMK working president M K Stalin wound its way from Rajaji Hall to the Marina shores, the Tricolour wrapped body with his trademark black shades and yellow stole still in tact was interred in a freshly dug grave with soldiers giving him a state funeral with full military honours.
A military band played Honouring Those Who Served as the casket was taken from the cortege to the grave. Buglers sounded the last post and gunners fired a 21-gun salute after the body of the 94-year-old five-time chief minister was lowered at 7 pm amid a crescendo of slogans.
In keeping with his rationalist beliefs, Karunanidhi’s body in a sandalwood casket was lowered into the earth without religious rituals. As per his wish, the wordings — The person who had worked without rest is resting here — were sculpted on the casket.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and a galaxy of national opposition leaders joined the sea of mourners from across Tamil Nadu who swelled outside Rajaji Hall where the body was kept since morning for public homage.
A legal battle was on against the AIADMK government’s order allotting a burial place for Karunanidhi on Sardar Patel road. After a long, midnight hearing, a two-judge bench of the Madras High Court headed by acting Chief Justice H. Ramesh rejected the government’s contention and permitted the burial on the Marina beach. It also asked the government to take all steps to assist in the process.
Chaos struck near Rajaji Hall, the British-built banquet hall in the sprawling government estate, where lakhs gathered eager to have a last glimpse of the leader. Their attempts to get near the casket resulted in commotion. Police used force to bring the situation under control but two people, including a 60-year-old-woman, lost their lives in the stampede. At least 35 people were injured. (IANS)
