DMK takes out peace rally to observe Karunanidhi's first death anniversary
Hundreds of DMK workers led by party’s chief MK Stalin assembled at the memorial of former chief minister M Karunanidhi on Marina beach on Wednesday (August 7) to pay floral tributes to the leader on his first death anniversary. DMK workers led by Stalin, party’s treasurer Durai Murugan, principal secretary TR Baalu, organising secretary RS Bharathi and women wing secretary Kanimozhi took out a peace rally from Walajah road which culminated at the memorial. After paying tribute to their father, Stalin and Kanimozhi planted sapling on the premises of the memorial to observe the first death anniversary.
Stalin’s brother and expelled leader MK Alagiri separately visited the memorial along with his family members and paid tributes. Alagiri, expelled from the party five years ago had last September held a rally here to pay homage to his father.
Later in the day, eminent personalities including poet Vairamuthu and MDMK MP Vaiko paid tributes to the DMK leader at his memorial. “Even after his (Karunanidhi’s) death, he is alive through his philosophy,” Vairamuthu said. “He attracted crores of hearts towards the Dravidian outfit. He made DMK a steel fort and protected it,” said Vaiko.
AIADMK’s former Rajya Sabha MP V Maitreyan also paid tributes to the leader and said how there has been a political vacuum in the state after the death of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa and M Karunanidhi.
DMK party units across Tamil Nadu held memorial events to commemorate Karunanidhi’s first death anniversary. His portrait was put up in public places where floral tributes were paid by party workers.
A memorial event has been scheduled at the office of Murasoli, the party’s mouthpiece at Kodambakkam in Chennai in the evening to mark the first death anniversary of the leader. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee will unveil a statue of Karunanidhi on the occasion. For the event, actor Rajinikanth, actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan, Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy and Teluga Desam Party Chief N Chandrababu Naidu are among the invitees.
(With inputs from agencies)
