Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman along with Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai on Friday paid respects to veteran actor and DMDK chief 'Captain' Vijaykanth who passed away in Chennai on Thursday. The Union Finance Minister said that she came to pay respect to 'Captain' on behalf of the central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Vijayakanth passed away after being hospitalised for pneumonia at a private hospital in Chennai on Thursday.

According to ANI, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, "Today I've come here to pay respects on behalf of the central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi...Capt. Vijaykanth was known as the most humane leader in Tamil politics and had a huge fan following."

"He was a self-made and upright person...He changed the practices which existed in Tamil Nadu... Crores of people were standing in line to pay their last respects to him. Yesterday I was told the lines extended till 9-10 kms...It is a great loss for Tamil politics," she said.






 


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Following the demise of the DMDK founder in a Chennai hospital, Vijayakanth's mortal remains were initially taken to his residence and then to the DMDK party office in Koyambedu for public homage. Dignitaries, including Tamil Nadu CM Stalin, AIADMK Chief Edappadi Palaniswami, DMK Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, and MP Thol Thirumavalavan, paid their respects. Actors Vijay, Vijayakumar, Khushbu Sundar, Abirami, Mansoor Ali Khan, Thyagu, Radha Ravi and directors Bhagyaraj, Mari Selvaraj among others also offered tributes on Thursday and Friday.


The leader will be laid to rest at 4:45 PM on Friday.