Thousands mourn death of revered Indian leader
CHENNAI: Thousands mourned in southern India yesterday after the death of revered 94-year-old political leader Muthuvel Karunanidhi.
Karunanidhi, a charismatic self-styled champion of the poor, had been in intensive care since July 28.
A big crowd had been thronging the streets outside the hospital since his hospitalisation, but it swelled to some 6,000 yesterday after doctors said he had suffered a “significant decline”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted condolences to Karunanidhi’s family, saying “India and particularly Tamil Nadu will miss him immensely”.
Supporters beat their chests and chanted the leader’s name as hundreds of police struggled to contain the surging crowds pressing against barricades.
The Press Trust of India news agency said a security alert had been sounded across the state.
Karunanidhi was chief minister of Tamil Nadu five times and successfully contested 12 state elections, building legions of supporters on the way.
His popularity had not waned even though he handed over the reins of his Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party to his son, M.K. Stalin.
Karunanidhi, a school dropout, became involved in politics at a young age, spearheading the DMK, which was allied to the Gandhi dynasty’s Congress party.
Affectionately called Kalaignar or scholar, he wrote reams of poems, lyrics and books, and was a prolific screenwriter for the Tamil film industry.