DMK workers protest after denial of Karunanidhi's burial at Marina Beach

After the Tamil Nadu government denied burial space for Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M. Karunanidhi near the Anna Memorial at Marina beach, a violence broke out outside Kauvery Hospital demanding the same.

DMK supporters turned violent and ransacked police barricades outside the hospital to which Chennai police resorted to lathi-charge. Many cadres outside Karunanidhi's Gopalapuram residence also chanted,"We want Marina!".

Karunanidhi's body has left for his Gopalapuram residence, where it will stay till 1:00 am, following which it will remain at his daughter, Kanimozhi's CIT Colony residence till 4:00 am.

Meanwhile, Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad expressed his condolence over the demise of Karunanidhi and called the Tamil Nadu government to not play politics in connection with the same.

"I express my deep condolences on the sad demise of Karunanidhi ji. Today, we have lost one of the great leaders of the country. He is respected all over the country. I pay my homage to him. It's a personal loss to me," Azad said while speaking to reporters here.

"The government of Tamil Nadu should not play politics. On such occasions, government and parties should be above politics. Kalaignar should be given his due. He deserves rightful place even after his demise," he added.

Azad also confirmed that Congress President Rahul Gandhi along with other party leaders would be leaving for Chennai tomorrow.

Amid the ruckus, Madras High Court acting Chief Justice Huluvadi G. Ramesh agreed to hear a case against denial of burial land by the Tamil Nadu government for Karunanidhi at around 10:30 pm today.

The Kalaignar's body will then be taken to the Rajaji Memorial for people to pay their last respects. The five-time chief minister passed away on Tuesday after a prolonged illness. He was 94.

Tamil Nadu's Kalaignar breathed his last at Kauvery Hospital, where he was undergoing treatment for a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). He is survived by three wives and six children.