TN mourns Karunanidhi’s death, leaders pay homage at Rajaji hall

Chennai: A steady stream of mourners filed past the mortal remains of DMK president and former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, which was kept at the Rajaji Hall early on Wednesday morning to enable the public to pay their homage.

The body of Mr Karunanidhi, who passed away last evening, was first shifted to his Gopalapuram residence from Kauvery hospital and later to the CIT Colony residence of his daughter and Rajya Sabha member Kanimozhi.

Earlier in the morning, his body was taken to the Rajaji Hall where it was draped in National flag and kept for public homage.

Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit was the early leader to pay his last respects to the departed leader. He also spent some time with Mr Karunanidhi’s son and DMK Working President M K Stalin and consoled him in this hour of grief.

Meanwhile, amid outpouring emotions, tens and hundreds of people filed past the body of the 94-year-old DMK Patriarch, who breathed his last at 1810 hrs last evening after battling for life of 11 days at the hospital.

Meanwhile, the Centre has announced a day long National mourning as a mark of respect to Mr Karunanidhi, while the state government announced a week-long mourning during which the tricolour would fly at half-mast and all official programmes stands cancelled.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had expressed his condolences, would be visiting the city along with defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to pay his last respects to the dravidian stalwart.

Leaders of various political parties and people from various walks of life paid their last respects to the mortal remains of Mr Karunanidhi at the Rajaji Hall.

Several National leaders, including AICC President Rahul Gandhi and Chief Ministers of various states, were expected to land in the city to pay their homage to the DMK leader. (UNI)