Captain laid to rest with full state honours
In a mark of respect to the departed leader, Stalin touched twice the wreath he placed in front of the coffin.
Captain Vijayakanth is being offered 72-gun salute
CHENNAI: DMDK founder and former leader of the opposition Captain Vijayakant on Friday was laid to rest at the DMDK headquarters in Koyambedu here with full state honours.
Vijayakant’s last rites received a 72-gun salute from the Tamil Nadu Police, as Chief Minister MK Stalin, Ministers Thangam Thennarasu, KN Nehru, Ma Subramanian, TM Anbarasan, MP TR Baalu, Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, Former chief minister O Panneerselvam, former minister D Jayakumar, TMC leader GK Vasan and senior leaders stood in silence.
Chief Minister Stalin removed his shoes before entering the space earmarked for state honours and conduct of last rites and laid a wreath accompanied by senior Ministers.
In a mark of respect to the departed leader, Stalin touched twice the wreath he placed in front of the coffin.
“Friend, you will live in our hearts forever,” Stalin said after laying a wreath for the coffin of Vijayakant.
Premalatha, Vijayakant’s wife and their sons Vijaya Prabhakaran and Shanmuga Pandian, LK Sudhish, brother-in-law of Vijayakant and family members took one last look at Vijayakant before the casket was lowered into a pit dug at the DMDK headquarters.
After Vijayakant’s family members performed the last rites, the coffin, made of sandalwood was buried, amid chants of ‘Captain’, and ‘Veera Vanakkam.’
The words ‘Puratchi Kalaignar Captain Vijayakant’ and his birth date, death date were embossed on the 50 kg sandalwood coffin.
Thevaram, Thiruvasagam and Tirumurai were sung during Vijayakant’s funeral.
The last rites of Vijayakant were performed by Siva Subramaniam, Thiagarajan, Kameshwaran and Kandhan.
He was buried in a manner similar to leaders like CN Annadurai, MGR, J Jayalalithaa and M Karunanidhi.
While only a limited number of people were allowed inside the space earmarked for burial, countless men gathered outside the party office as a mark of respect.
Premalatha, her sons Vijaya Prabhakaran and Shanmuga Pandian were consoled by the leaders.
Meanwhile, Premalatha thanked Chief Minister Stalin, state Ministers and Commissioner of Greater Chennai Corporation for their cooperation for the funeral and last rites with state honours.
“Royal salute to all the people, police personnel, cadre and journalists. The funeral procession of Captain has crossed 14 km from Island Grounds to Koyambedu in four hours. Nearly 15 lakh people reported to have attended the funeral procession in two days. I would like to express my gratitude to all the political party leaders who attended the funeral,” Premalatha said while addressing a gathering after the completion of the last rites.
Further, the DMDK general secretary announced that the party would construct a memorial for their late leader where he was laid to rest.
