Nation unites in saluting Thalaivar

Anxiety overshadowed agony as the clocks ticked close to 8 am. With every passing minute thereafter, an unease set in among the DMK cadre, who started fiddling their phones to check for updates from the court where their advocates were trying to outwit the government lawyers.

Around half past 10 am, a sombre DMK working president M K Stalin retired to the room behind the mortal remains of his father at Rajaji Hall only to emerge later with a smile implying a sense of relief. Seconds later, he conveyed the “good news” from the High Court to Duraimurugan and A Raja, as an apprehensive sister Kanimozhi advanced towards them from a few paces away. Moments later, a ‘happy’ Stalin cried uncontrollably, holding an equally emotional Kanimozhi’s hand, flanked by teary-eyed Raja and Duraimurugan.

The whole of Rajaji Hall briefly erupted in elation a few second later when Duraimurugan grabbed the microphone and said, “What we could not get, what the government could not give, an eternal fighter Kalaignar has got it for himself, fighting in the court.” “This is Thalapathy’s first victory to rule Tamil Nadu,” he added, increasing the tempo and demonstrating his loyalty to Stalin, while elder son M K Alagiri and his family, who consciously avoided public appearance at Rajaji Hall, heard the politically loaded victory message of Duraimurugan.

The jubilation was followed by deafening chants of the cadre who hailed “Thalaivar”, “Dr Kalaignar” and “Tamil Ina Thalaivar” until their throats ran dry. As the tempo gradually died down, police suspended public movement on the corridors of the hall.

Entered the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accompanied by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The PM placed a wreath on the mortal remains of Kalaignar and moved around to the other side of the casket where he momentarily held the hands of Rajathi Ammal before placing a hand on the head of Kanimozhi to console her. Thereafter, the Prime Minister exchanged a few words with Stalin.