New Delhi: National leaders Tuesday condoled the death of DMK President M Karunanidhi, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi announcing they would attend his last rites in Chennai Wednesday.
Leaders across party lines expressed grief over the death of the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister including President Ram Nath Kovind, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
“Extremely sad… A doyen of our public life, as a contributor to the development of Tamil Nadu and of India he has few peers. Our country is poorer today. My condolences to his family and millions of well-wishers,” President Kovind wrote on Twitter. Modi expressed his anguish in a series of tweets.
“Deeply saddened by the passing away of Kalaignar Karunanidhi. He was one of the senior most leaders of India. We have lost a deep-rooted mass leader, prolific thinker, accomplished writer and a stalwart whose life was devoted to the welfare of the poor and the marginalised.
“Kalaignar Karunanidhi stood for regional aspirations as well as national progress. He was steadfastly committed to the welfare of Tamils and ensured that Tamil Nadu’s voice was effectively heard,” Modi said.
Modi said he had the opportunity of interacting with Karunanidhi on several occasions. “His understanding of policy and emphasis on social welfare stood out. Firmly committed to democratic ideals, his strong opposition to the Emergency will always be remembered.”
Rahul Gandhi said India lost a great son, who strode the stage of Tamil politics like a colossus for over six decades. “In his passing, India has lost a great son. My condolences to his family as also to the millions of Indians who grieve for their beloved leader,” he said.
Former President Pranab Mukherjee said Karunanidhi will be deeply missed. “Sixty years a legislator, five times CM and a pillar of many coalitions at the Centre, he influenced his state’s and the national politics like few others. My deepest condolences to his family and admirers,” Mukherjee tweeted.
BJP President Amit Shah said no one can forget his struggle during the Emergency.
Among other national leaders, Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari, commerce and industry minister Suresh Prabhu, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury also condoled the death of the DMK stalwart. Karunanidhi, 94, passed away Tuesday evening. He had been admitted to the hospital July 28 and his condition worsened Monday.
Row erupts over burial site
Chennai: A controversy erupted Tuesday night after the TN government rejected the DMK’s demand for allotting space on the Marina beach for the burial of Karunanidhi and offered space near the memorials of former CMs C Rajagopalachari and K Kamraj. DMK working president MK Stalin, recalling the long public life of Karunanidhi, wrote to CM K Palaniswami seeking space inside the mausoleum complex of the departed leader’s mentor CN Annadurai at the Marina.
Cadres urged to stay calm
Chennai: DMK working president MK Stalin Tuesday appealed to cadres to remain calm and follow discipline in ‘this hour of grief’. He made the appeal hours after his father and party chief M Karunanidhi passed away at a private hospital here. Stalin urged the cadres, who have been thronging the Kauvery Hospital ever since Karunanidhi was admitted there July 28, to disperse in a peaceful manner as the doctors had treated his father to the best of their ability for nearly two years.
Naveen pays condolence
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed deep grief over the demise of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M Karunanidhi Tuesday. Offering his heartfelt condolences to the departed leader, Naveen described him as the tallest leader of Tamil Nadu who played a key role in social change and reforms in his state. In fact, he was much ahead of his times.