Marina burial for MK denied after tough deliberations

One of the topmost leaders in the ruling party camp, despite suggestions from the cabinet colleagues, reportedly was firm in denying the request of the late DMK president’s family to bury the mortal remains of Karunanidhi on the Marina beach.

Though several senior ministers had asked heed the request of the DMK family, the top leader chose not to listen to them. There was a suspicion that the denial of permission was due to some pressure from external quarters, AIADMK sources told DT Next.

It may be recalled that a delegation of family members and DMK leaders, including working president MK Stalin and his brother MK Alagiri, met Palaniswami at the latter’s residence around Tuesday noon, even as Karunanidhi’s health deteriorated.

The delegation had apparently requested the CM to allot a space on Marina for the burial, sources said, adding that in response the government had informed them that the request would not be accepted. However, in an official statement issued by Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan later in the evening, the State government said it could not allot a space on the Marina due to legal problems and instead offered land on the Sardar Patel Road near the memorials of former Chief Ministers Rajaji and Kamarajar. The announcement created a furore among the DMK supporters and a section of the public across the State.

“A minister from western district told the top-ranking leader to allot the land for Karunanidhi, as there had never been any request on any issue from the DMK’s main family. But, the senior leader silenced his colleagues saying “had former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa been alive, she would have denied permission,” a AIADMK source said.

Another party source alleged that the top leader was acting as per directions from the top brass of a national party. The State government was desperate in winning the case and had unnecessarily brought in references of former Chief Minister VN Janaki’s burial, when Karunanidhi refused the plea to bury her on Marina. There was support within AIADMK cadre to heed the request of Karunanidhi’s family, as he was one of the towering leaders in TN politics and at the national level as well, the source added.