Leaders make beeline for ailing Karunanidhi’s home
President, Prime Minister inquire about the DMK chief’s health; Stalin appeals not to believe rumours
A battery of national and regional leaders, led by President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday made inquiries about the health of DMK president M Karunanidhi and extended their wishes for his speedy recovery.
The nonagenarian leader’s health had suffered a setback on Thursday evening after he contracted fever and infection and doctors were monitoring him round-the-clock on the first floor of his Gopalapuram house.
Kovind, Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi were among those who spoke to Karunanidhi’s son and DMK working president MK Stalin to wish him good health.
Stalin told journalists that the fever had subsided to an extent and the infection too was reducing. Later he issued a statement appealing to everyone not to believe rumours. “Rumour mongers are spreading rumours about the health of Karunanidhi. His health condition is improving due to the round-the-clock treatment administered by doctors,” he said in a late evening press release. He appealed to party cadre, office bearers and others to avoid visiting the DMK patriarch.
Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi returned from Delhi in the afternoon and told reporters at the Chennai airport that there were no plans to move him to a hospital as a hospital-like set up was made at the house. “There is an infection and he is on antibiotics. I hope he will become better soon,” she said.
The DMK leader’s second son MK Alagiri also arrived in Chennai from Madurai.
Karunanidhi remained unaware of his surroundings through the day with no one being allowed to see him. Incidentally, on Friday he crossed a major political milestone when he stepped into the 50th year as president of the DMK. Karunanidhi had taken over as the first president of the DMK in July 1969, four months after the death of the party founder CN Annadurai, and has since remained at the helm.
Throughout the day, hundreds of DMK cadre remained outside Karunanidhi''s house praying for his recovery. Many were in tears.