Having denied permission for the DMK’s request for a resting place on the Marina for its patriarch on Tuesday, the Tamil Nadu government strongly argued in the High Court saying “no one had the right” to demand space there.
As the cases filed against the proposed Jayalalithaa memorial were withdrawn to provide a resting space for Mr. Karunanidhi, Acting Chief Justice Huluvadi G. Ramesh and Justice S.S. Sundar found no “legal impediments” as claimed by the State government, and directed it to grant space as desired by the petitioner, to bury Mr. Karunanidhi on the Marina. Mr. Stalin, who seemed rather stoic all through, broke down after the favourable verdict.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived on the dot at Rajaji Hall. He spent a few minutes consoling and talking to Mr. Stalin, Karunanidhi’s wife Rajathi Ammal and daughter Kanimozhi and left after paying his last respects. Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Deputy CM O. Panneerselvam also paid their respects early in the morning.
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While there were no bus services, in the city, people found their own way of getting to pay respects to Mr. Karunanidhi. They arrived in two wheelers, MRTS trains, suburban trains, and even walked so that they could get a final glimpse of their leader. A good number of them stayed back to accompany the cortege on its way through the arterial Anna Salai, and Wallajah Road to reach Anna Memorial.