Why didn't CM Edappadi K Palaniswami attend Karuna's funeral, asks Rajinikanth
Chennai: Superstar Rajinikanth on Monday slammed Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and his Cabinet colleagues, accusing them of insulting the late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi by staying away from his funeral when all the other leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi had paid their last respects.
“When the whole of India including PM Modi, CMs of all the states, Governor, Rahul Gandhi and other political leaders, were present at the burial, why didn’t the first citizen of Tamil Nadu, the Chief Minister, turn up? Why didn’t the entire state ministry be there? What will others think of us? Does he think he (CM) is late iconic MGR sir or Jayalalithaa madam? They were all ‘jambavans’ and they had their own ways. Those days have gone. You don’t try to do it now”, Rajinikanth told reporters after a condolence meet of the Tamil film industry held at the Kalaivanar Arangam for the DMK patriarch who had been closely associated with the Tamil cinema.
“There’s a vacuum created in Tamil Nadu after Thalaivar’s death and no one can replace him in any manner. He is one of the greatest leaders India has ever seen. I have a grouse but I am not sure if I can express it at this forum”, said the superstar.
Referring to the government’s refusal to allot the Marina burial site for Karunanidhi, he said, “After so much of drama, finally they gave the place. Thankfully, they did not go for appeal. Had they done that, I would myself have protested”. He also insisted that Karunanidhi’s portrait should be placed alongside those of MGR and Jayalalithaa at all AIADMK functions, arguing, “After all, AIADMK was formed out of DMK”.
The condolence meet was organized by the Tamil film industry comprising the TFPC, Nadigar Sangam, FEFSI, Directors Association, Distributors and Exhibitors Associations. Many film personalities including Vishal, Nasser and Karunanidhi’s son and working president of DMK M K Stalin, besides Udhayanidhi Stalin, took part at the event. SP Muthuraman, Radha Ravi, Bhagyaraj, P.Vasu, Thanu, Kayaar, among others spoke on the occasion. Vishal announced that a signature campaign is being organized among the film fraternity and a petition to award ‘Bharat Ratna’ to Kalaignar Karunanidhi would be sent to the Union Government.
Referring to the government's refusal to allot the Marina burial site for Karunanidhi, he said, "After so much of drama, finally they gave the place. Thankfully, they did not go for appeal. Had they done that, I would myself have protested". He also insisted that Karunanidhi's portrait should be placed alongside those of MGR and Jayalalithaa at all AIADMK functions, arguing, "After all, AIADMK was formed out of DMK".
The condolence meet was organized by the Tamil film industry comprising the TFPC, Nadigar Sangam, FEFSI, Directors Association, Distributors and Exhibitors Associations. Many film personalities including Vishal, Nasser and Karunanidhi's son and working president of DMK M K Stalin, besides Udhayanidhi Stalin, took part at the event. SP Muthuraman, Radha Ravi, Bhagyaraj, P.Vasu, Thanu, Kayaar, among others spoke on the occasion. Vishal announced that a signature campaign is being organized among the film fraternity and a petition to award 'Bharat Ratna' to Kalaignar Karunanidhi would be sent to the Union Government.
