AIADMK government refuses space to bury Karunanidhi's remains on Marina

Chennai, Aug 7 (IANS) The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday declined DMK's request to allot space for burying the mortal remains of former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi near party founder C.N. Annadurai's memorial at the Marina Beach.

In a statement, Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan said as there were several cases pending in the Madras High Court over burial of leaders at the Marina Beach, the government was not able to allot space near the Annadurai memorial.

According to her, Chief Minister K. Palaniswami said two acres land would be allotted for Karunanidhi's burial near Gandhi Mandapam on Sardar Patel Road which already houses memorials for K. Kamaraj and others.

Earlier, family members of Karunanidhi led by DMK Working President M.K. Stalin and party officials met Palaniswami and sought space near Annadurai's memorial for burying Karunanidhi's body, DMK leader Duraimurugan told reporters.

A five-times Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Karunanidhi died after battling age related ailments at Kauvery Hospital on Tuesday evening.

The mortal remains of AIADMK founder M.G. Ramachandran and his successor J. Jayalalithaa are buried near Annadurai's memorial on the Marina Beach.