Karunanidhi's Burial at Marina Beach Will Not be Stalled, Supreme Court Rejects Plea
Ramaswamy's petition came hours after the Madras High Court ruled in DMK's favour after the Tamil Nadu government headed by AIADMK refused to grant burial space.
New Delhi, Aug 8: The Supreme Court has rejected a plea filed by activist Traffic Ramaswamy which challenged the burial of DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi at the Marina Beach on environmental grounds.
Ramaswamy's petition came hours after the Madras High Court ruled in DMK's favour after the Tamil Nadu government headed by AIADMK refused to grant burial space.
The state government conceded that the funeral procession at Marina could damage the beach, as redlined earlier by the environmental bodies. The DMK, however, said it would not be befitting to bury Kalaignar at any other ground as most of the Dravidian icons in Tamil Nadu have been laid to rest at the Marina.
DMK founder C Annadurai, AIADMK patriarch MG Ramadoss and his political heir J Jayalalithaa had been earlier buried at the Marina Beach.
Earlier, arguing before the Madras HC, DMK counsel said his party needs nothing more than "6X6 foot land for a tall leader" to be laid to rest.
Karunanidhi, a former five-time chief minister of Tamil Nadu, passed away in Chennai's Kauvery Hospital on Tuesday after prolonged illness.
The 94-year-old will be succeeded by his son MK Stalin, the working president of the DMK. Till his death, Karunanidhi remained the president of the party -- a position he held for fifty years.
Leaders and heads of states from across the nation arrived in Chennai since yesterday to pay their final tributes. Among those who met the bereaved family include Prime Minister Narendra Modi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 08, 2018 03:47 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).