Sayeed Muhammad: An Indian court has allowed the burial of veteran politician Muthuvel Karunanidhi at an iconic site despite the government’s objections over the matter.
His family wanted his burial at Marina Beach in Chennai (formerly Madras), along with other former chief ministers, reports BBC, adding, the government in the southern state of Tamil Nadu denied the request.
Karunanidhi, who served as the state’s chief minister five times, died on Tuesday at the age of 94 and he had been under-treatment for age-related illnesses at the Kauvery Hospital in capital Chennai, reports BBC.
He helped float the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party in 1949, which he led until his demise.
Controversy erupted after he died when the state government denied allocating space for his burial. It told the Chennai High Court that only chief ministers who died while in office had been buried at Marina Beach, but the claim was rejected.
Karunanidhi will now be laid to rest alongside his mentor, CN Annadurai. His two biggest political rivals, MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalitha, are also buried there.
Thousands had flocked to the hospital after his death and some of them resorted to violence after hearing about the government’s decision, with his supporters warning that they would be “extremely offended” if Karunanidhi wasn’t buried at the Beach.
Several prominent figures in Tamil Nadu, including actor and politician Kamal Haasan, said it was only right for Karunanidhi to be buried there given his “vast contribution to Indian politics”.
Starting in 1957, Karunanidhi contested and won 13 elections in the state. A prolific writer and a fiery speaker known for his wit and oratory, he enjoyed god-like status among his supporters.