A week after the death of former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, the politics over his burial at the Marina refuses to die down. In scathing remarks against the DMK, Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar said it was the party’s fault the government refused to grant Kalaignar a resting place at the Marina.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, he said, “Did DMK participate when the portrait of sacrificial leader Puratchi Thalaivi Amma (former CM J Jayalalithaa), who had dedicated her life for the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu and Tamils, was inaugurated in assembly? They didn’t participate that day. They also got someone to file a case saying no images (of her) should be kept in government offices. They’ve also objected to a memorial at the Marina. Who is behind all this? DMK’s instigation and cases filed by the DMK. So the cases they filed were an obstacle to them. If the cases they filed were not obstacle, we would definitely given them (the land) that day itself.”
The minister was referring to the portrait of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, which was unveiled at the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in Chennai in February this year,
Presided over by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal unveiled the 7-foot portrait of the late AIADMK supremo. However, the main Opposition DMK and its ally, Congress, boycotted the unveiling ceremony stating that it set a wrong precedent as she was a convicted in the disproportionate assets case.
Jayalalithaa, who passed away in December 2016, was posthumously convicted, along with close aide Sasikala in February 2017. The Supreme Court, however, abated the case against Jayalalithaa on account of her death.
Soon after Karunanidhi’s death was announced on August 7, the AIADMK government refused to allot space for the burial of the former Chief Minister's mortal remains near the Anna memorial, citing legal reasons.
Karunanidhi’s sons MK Stalin, MK Alagiri and daughter Kanimozhi personally met the Chief Minister on the day to make a request for a burial spot for their father next to his mentor and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister CN Annadurai.
Recounting the meeting at the emergency Executive Committee meeting organised by the party on Tuesday, Stalin said, "I feel no shame in admitting that we held on to the CM's hand and pleaded with him to give us the burial space in Marina. All this because it was my leader's last wish. Even then they gave no affirmation. Finally, to make us leave, he told us, 'We'll see'.”
While the AIADMK was accused of playing petty politics over the issue, the DMK moved the Madras High Court late at night, winning their case to ensure that their party leader’s wish to be buried near his mentor was fulfilled.