Pleaded with CM to allot burial space for Thalaivar, says Stalin

CHENNAI: The row over allotment of burial space for DMK chief M Karunanidhi shows no signs of abating, with party leader MK Stalin on Tuesday saying he literally 'pleaded' with Chief Minister K Palaniswami for space on the Marina beach front.

The government, on its part, maintained that its decision to allot burial space for the Dravidian stalwart elsewhere was taken considering legal issues, but asserted it gave "unprecedented respect" to the leader by ensuring state honours. Stalin, DMK working president, said he decided not to pay heed to his senior colleagues' suggestion that he need not meet Palaniswami to make a plea on the issue and that they would do the job. "I was prepared to lose my dignity and honour for the sake of Thalaivar (leader--karunanidhi) and met the chief minister where we made our case (for space at Marina). "He cited rules to say it was not possible and that even

legal opinion was in this regard," he said at an urgent meeting of the DMK executive committee to mourn Karunanidhi's demise.

"I told (the CM) that legal advisers will only reflect the government...i literally pleaded with the chief minister, holding his hands, and asked his support for us in fulfilling our Thalaivar's desire (of being buried near the Anna memorial)," he said.

DMK founder CN Annadurai, fondly addressed as Anna, is the mentor of Karunanidhi from whom the latter took over the reins of the party and the government.