Earlier, a controversy erupted over Karunanidhi's cremation as the state government on Tuesday rejected DMK's demand for giving space for his burial at Marina beach, propelling an early morning hearing of High Court on the matter on Wednesday. However, the Madras High Court today allowed the burial of the DMK chief on the Marina Beach. Keeping their personal and political differences aside, the grief over father's demise united siblings Stalin, Alagiri and Kanimozhi. PM Narendra Modi also met them and offered his condolences. Congress President Rahul Gandhi, former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav and former Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav also arrived in afternoon to pay their last respects.
Here are the latest updates of Karunanidhi Funeral at Marina beach
- 3:25 pm - Karunanidhi was not just popular in Tamil Nadu but the entire country knew about him well, says Home Minister Rajnath Singh
- 3:00 pm - May his soul rest in peace, says Tejashwi Yadav, RJD
- 2:20 pm: Congress President Rahul Gandhi pays his tributes to mortal remains of DMK Chief
- 12:30 pm: Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien to represent Trinamool Congress at the funeral of M Karunanidhi in Chennai
- 11:14 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays last respects to former CM M Karunanidhi at Chennai's Rajaji Hall.
- 11:30 am: Parliament adjourned for the day after observing 2 minute silence over Karunanidhi's death
- 11 am: MK Stalin breaks down after Madras High Court's verdict to allow the burial of former CM M Karunanidhi at Chennai's Marina beach
- 10: 54 am: Madras High Court pronounces verdict: M Karunanidhi to get a burial at the Marina Beach
- 10:32 am: PM Modi arrives in Chennai to pay last respects to Karunanidhi
- 10:09 am: Rapid Action Force has been deployed outside Anna memorial at Marina beach in Chennai. Hearing in the case against denial of burial land by Tamil Nadu Govt at Marina beach for Karunanidhi is underway at Madras High Court.
- 10:02 am: Madras High court hearing: Tamil Nadu govt's lawyer says "there is a difference of protocol for somebody who is on a particular post and somebody who had held that post. We are following precedents in this matter, that were set by Karunanidhi himself. DK Chief Periyar was the tallest leader of Dravidian movement. Was he buried at Marina beach?"
- 10 am: Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan pays last respects to former CM M Karunanidhi at Chennai's Rajaji Hall. He also rooted for Kalaignar's memorial at Marina Beach.
- 9:30 am: During High Court hearing over Karunanidhi's burial, DMK laywer says: 'There are 1 crore DMK followers in Tamil Nadu out of 7 crore population of the state. They'll be offended if burial land is not allotted for Karunanidhi at Marina beach." He also said 'You (state govt) have announced state mourning, why not give land for burial? There's no prohibition under Central Govt protocol to allot land at Marina beach for ex-CMs."
- 9:05 am: Four petitioners challenging the Karunanidhi's cremation at Marina, withdrew their petitions. The fifth one said that court’s order will be acceptable. The High Court after this, dismissed the fifth petition as well. Hearing is underway for the petition filed by DMK.
- 8:52 am: Former Kerala CM Oommen Chandi, Deepa Jayakumar, VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan paid last tributes to the former CM of Tamil Nadu at Chennai's Rajaji Hall.
- 8: 37 am: Madras High Court dismisses petitions filed by Traffic Ramaswamy, K Balu & Duraisamy challenging construction of memorials at Marina beach.
- Madras HC directs Traffic Ramaswamy’s lawyer to file memorandum that he has no objection to bury Karunanidhi’s body at Marina beach. Lawyer submits the memorandum to the Acting Chief Justice.
- 8:19 am: Lawyer of petitioner Traffic Ramaswamy says 'We have no objection to the burial land for Karunanidhi'. Acting Chief Justice says to the lawyer 'Withdraw your case'.