Chennai: The ruling AIADMK continued to maintain that the state government was right in denying Marina sands for the DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi to rest.
In a long statement, laced with liberal tinges of sharp criticism flung at the DMK's ‘second level leaders’, accusing them of politicizing the issue, the AIADMK's official mouthpiece, ‘Namadhu Amma’ said on Wednesday that the government had taken its decision only to avoid legal complications, as there were several cases in the High court against memorials coming up at Marina here.
However, baring the inner political intent in the Marina denial, the AIADMK paper recalled how the DMK had criticized the government's proposal for a memorial for the former Chief Minister, J Jayalalitha, at the ‘MGR Samadhi’ at the Marina, and also installation of her portrait in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly recently.
The AIADMK, in stoutly defending its Marina denial decision until the courts intervened to cool tempers across the State on Wednesday, hours before Mr Karunanidhi's mortal remains were to be taken in a procession for the last rites on the Marina sands, also pointed out that when the veteran Congress leader K Kamaraj had passed away during an earlier Chief Ministerial tenure of Karunanidhi, the latter had only allotted two acres of land near Gandhi Mandapam in Guindy in the city, despite Kamaraj being such a tall national leader.
This was notwithstanding the fact that Congress leaders then had not placed any request to the government of the day on allotment of land for a memorial for Kamaraj, the AIADMK paper stressed, adding, if “Karunanidhi had been large-hearted then, he could have allotted space for a memorial for Kamaraj adjacent to the Anna Memorial on Marina sands. However, this argument rests on a faulty logic, shot back the DMK spokesperson, Mr T K S Elangovan. He said, any fair reading of the situation, then and now, would show that the present (AIADMK) government should have allotted space for a memorial for Karunanidhi on the Marina sands even without we asking for it.” The reason is that the DMK patriarch had so far been the longest-serving Chief Minister, having occupied that office in Tamil Nadu for the “maximum number of days” as a five-time Chief Minister of the State, Mr. Elangovan said.
Even more, the DMK spokesperson pointed out, Karunanidhi was at the very centre of the state's politics for decades, making him virtually coterminous with the state politics of his times. In the case of Kamaraj, nobody made any specific request from the Congress party, said Mr. Elangovan.
However, in the case of former Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalaithaa, space for her memorial adjacent to the MGR memorial had been allotted by the present government “for the reason of she having co-starred with MGR in films.”
“If such is the case, space for Karunanidhi's mortal remains to rest near Anna Square on the Marina, should have been naturally allotted even without we asking for it, as ‘Kalaignar’ remained the most faithful younger brother of Anna”, Mr. Elangovan contended, adding, the Madras High Court's order today is itself a 'fitting reply' to the AIADMK's position on this issue.
DMK cadre dies in accident on way to Rajaji Hall
Chennai: An DMK cadre was killed on the spot when the car in which he was travelling lost control and rammed a tree near Chengalpattu on Wednesday early morning. He was on the way to Rajaji Hall to homage to DMK president M. Karunanidhi.
The deceased was identified as Manivannan (45) of Virudhunagar. According to the police, Manivannan came to the city along with four other DMK cadres from Virudhunagar to pay homage.When they were near Pulipakkam near Chengalpattu, Manivannan lost control of the vehicle and rammed a tree on the roadside. “Manivannan sustained severe injuries and died on the spot. His injured friends were sent to Chengalpattu government hospital,” the police said. On information, Chengalpattu Taluk police rushed to the spot and sent Manivannan's body to Chengalpattu Government hospital for post-mortem. The police registered a case and are investigating.
