Live: Karunanidhi laid to rest at Marina beach with full state honours

DMK chief M Karunanidhi has been finally buried at Marina beach amid tearful scenes as supporters pay their last respects.

Karunanidhi's casket is being lowered to the ground as his son Stalin, daughter Kanimozhi hold back tears.

Finally, the 21-gun salute is accorded to Karunanidhi.

Last rites were performed by supporters including Karunanidhi's son Stalin as the casket was buried by Army personnel with full state honours.

Defence personnel accorded full state honours to Karunanidhi as the tricolour which was draped around the DMK stalwart was folded and handed over to Stalin.

People paid their last respects to the former chief minister as final preparation began to bury the late DMK leader.

Karunanidhi will be laid to rest beside his mentor Annadurai, the first chief minister of Tamil Nadu.

 Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu and other leaders paid homage to Karunanidhi at Marina beach.

Karunanidhi is being accorded full state honours as his body is brought by defence personnel to Marina beach.

Karunanidhi's body is set to reach the Marina beach area.

The late ex-chief minister's son Stalin reached the burial site ahead of the ceremony and met leaders across party lines with CM Chandrababu Naidu, Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Gulam Nabi Azad and JD(S) supremo and ex-prime minister HD Deve Gowda who expressed grief over the death of the DMK icon. 

Police officials kept a strict vigil as thousands of supporters slowed down the vehicle carrying Karunanidhi's mortal remains as it made its way through Tamil Nadu's capital. Karunanidhi will be shortly laid to rest at Marina beach.

People came out in thousands as Karunanidhi's mortal remains made its way through Chennai to Marina beach where he will be finally laid to rest. DMK cadres including common people and supporters kept pouring into the street to pay homage as the DMK chief's journey continued through the streets of the city.

Karunanidhi's son Stalin broke down as the ex-chief minister's coffin was being taken for the final journey amid chaos and heavy security cover.

Earlier, the police had to resort to lathicharge as supporters thronged the area leading to the death of 2 people with several others injured.

As Karunanidhi's body was brought out for his final journey towards Marina beach his supporters went out of control leading to police lathicharge in which 2 people were killed. At least 33 people were injured during the lathicharge.

The crowd at the burial site went out of control at Rajaji hall as the mortal remains of Karunanidhi were brought out for the last time in his journey towards Marina beach. Reports said the police lathicharged the crowd with some getting hurt in the ensuing chaos.  

Construction of Karunanidhi's burial site at Marina Beach is underway: 

Also read: Karunanidhi to be buried at Marina Beach, orders Madras High Court

On Karunanidhi's coffin is written: 'A person who continued to work without rest, now takes rest'

"Those who are in power are trying to create chaos, but you have all shown the strength of the cadres. I appeal to everyone to maintain peace," says Stalin. 

"I request the cadre to remain calm, I did not want anything for myself. All I want is a fitting tribute to Kalaignar," says Stalin

People climb over walls to get a last glimpse of Karunanidhi after police blocked off the entrance to Chennai's Rajaji Hall

A scuffle breaks out between police and the crowd gathered at Rajaji Hall. Police have to resort to lathi-charge. 

Supporters come out in their thousands to pay their last respects to former DMK patriarch Karunanidhi who died Tuesday evening

Also read: When leaders become demi-gods; a history of hero-worshipping in Tamil Nadu

Parliament to adjourn in tribute to DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, a five-time chief minister who died yesterday.

Madras High Court allows Karunanidhi's mortal remains to be buried in Marina near Anna's Memorial.

Anna memorial, locally known as Anna Samadhi, is a memorial structure built on the Marina beach in memory of former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, C N Annadurai.

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 M Karunanidhi is underway at Madras High Court.

The Tamil Nadu govternment's lawyer says 'DMK is pursuing political agenda by filing this case. DK Chief Periyar was the tallest leader of Dravidian movement. Was he buried at Marina beach?'

DMK's lawyer 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.'

DMK's lawyer says '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.

Karunanidhi himself didn't allot land for former CM Janaki Ramachandran: Madras HC

Madras High Court Acting Chief Justice records in his order, submissions made by DMK organising secretary RS Bharathi in his affidavit seeking burial land at Marina beach for Karunanidhi.

Court records contents of the counter affidavit filed by state Govt who tells Court, DMK can't challenge press release by Govt expressing inability to allot space at Marina beach for Karunanidhi.

Tamil Nadu Govt states in its counter affidavit that DMK chief Karunanidhi himself didn't allot land for former CM Janaki Ramachandran after understanding the protocol manual when Karunanidhi was the CM.

Madras High Court dismisses petitions filed by Traffic Ramaswamy, K Balu and Duraisamy challenging the construction of memorials at Marina beach.

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'.

Tamil Nadu Govt files its counter affidavit in the case. Hearing in the matter is underway at Madras High Court.

The hearing of the case against the denial of burial land by the Tamil Nadu government at the Marina Beach has begun.

PM Narendra Modi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and many top leaders from Delhi will arrive in Chennai to pay last respects to the departed DMK stalwart.

Karunanidhi burial at Marina beach: Madras High Court adjourns case till 8am today

Hearing by the Madras High Court in the case against denial of burial land to late Tamil Nadu chief minister Karunanidhi at Marina beach by the state government was adjourned late on Tuesday night as the state government sought more time to file a reply.

Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan said Tamil Nadu government can't allot land near Anna Memorial for laying former CM and DMK chief M Karunanidhi to rest since many petitions are pending before courts. However, the government is ready to allot two acres of lands near Gandhi Mandapam.

Karunanidhi: The poet, screenplay writer who wrote politically strong dialogues

Tamil Nadu stands apart from every other state of India. Its politics, language, leaders, role models and the cultural footprint is far removed even from the other four south Indian states. This distinctiveness defines Tamil politics and former chief minister Karunanidhi was a fine example of it.
 

DMK chief M Karunanidhi - five-time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu who dominated the state's politics for six decades along with arch-rivals MG Ramachandran and later, J Jayalalithaa - died at a hospital in Chennai Tuesday evening. 

The 94-year-old leader was admitted to Kauvery Hospital on July 28 after he contracted urinary tract infection and developed a high fever.