Raja, Kani arrive to grand welcome
DMK Revels Over 2G Acquittal
Sivakumar.B@timesgroup.com
Chennai: DMK has had very little to celebrate in the last seven years. So, two days after a CBI court acquitted them in the 2G spectrum case, the atmosphere was one of celebration in Chennai as DMK partymen decorated parts of the city with flowers and posters to welcome Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi and former telecom minister A Raja.
The spotlight, of course, was on the Gopalapuram residence of DMK chief M Karunanidhi. Kanimozhi headed straight to meet her father, falling at his feet and seeking his blessings.
“On seeing her father, Kanimozhi turned emotional and spoke a few words in his ears. Karunanidhi immediately responded with a smile and pinched her cheeks and kissed her. On seeing this, senior leader Duraimurugan broke down and had to be consoled by former Union minister T R Baalu and Kanimozhi,” a DMK leader, who was present, told TOI.
Raja entered the room a few minutes later and also fell at Karunanidhi’s feet to seek his blessings. “It was an emotional scene as Raja fell at Thalaivar’s feet and held his hands for a few seconds. Karunanidhi looked at him and smiled. There was all-round happiness in the room with party leaders garlanding Raja and Kanimozhi and presenting them with shawls,” said the leader.
Former CEO of Kalaignar TV Sharad Kumar, who was an accused in the 2G case, was also present. DMK general secretary K Anbazhagan was among the few senior partymen who had arrived to welcome them.
Shortly after the exchanges with Kanimozhi and Raja, Karunanidhi came out to greet party cadres. On seeing him, cadres went into a frenzy with many vying to take selfies from a distance with their leader in the background. Karunanidhi waited for a while and raised his hand as though waving at those present and went back in. “All of us have been acquitted from the 2G case,” said an elated Raja and Karunanidhi acknowledged the remark with a smile.
Cadres, who gathered at Karunanidhi’s Gopalapuram residence, were jubilant. “I just need a picture of myself with the Gopalapuram residence in the background. I will upload it on Facebook and Instagram,” said M Muthupandi of Cuddalore. He had waited for more than an hour outside the Gopalapuram residence.
Kanimozhi later went to her residence at CIT Colony where folk artists performed and fireworks were set off. She was showered with flower petals. “I am not expecting new posts in the party but at the same time, I will not give up the women’s wing chief post,” Kanimozhi told reporters at her residence. She also thanked V K Sasikala’s nephew TTV Dhinakaran and niece Krishnapriya for welcoming the 2G case verdict acquitting them.
Earlier, DMK working president M K Stalin and senior party leaders welcomed Raja and Kanimozhi at the airport.
ALL SMILES: Raja and Kanimozhi being received at the Chennai airport on Saturday
DMK Revels Over 2G Acquittal
Sivakumar.B@timesgroup.com
Chennai: DMK has had very little to celebrate in the last seven years. So, two days after a CBI court acquitted them in the 2G spectrum case, the atmosphere was one of celebration in Chennai as DMK partymen decorated parts of the city with flowers and posters to welcome Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi and former telecom minister A Raja.
The spotlight, of course, was on the Gopalapuram residence of DMK chief M Karunanidhi. Kanimozhi headed straight to meet her father, falling at his feet and seeking his blessings.
“On seeing her father, Kanimozhi turned emotional and spoke a few words in his ears. Karunanidhi immediately responded with a smile and pinched her cheeks and kissed her. On seeing this, senior leader Duraimurugan broke down and had to be consoled by former Union minister T R Baalu and Kanimozhi,” a DMK leader, who was present, told TOI.
Raja entered the room a few minutes later and also fell at Karunanidhi’s feet to seek his blessings. “It was an emotional scene as Raja fell at Thalaivar’s feet and held his hands for a few seconds. Karunanidhi looked at him and smiled. There was all-round happiness in the room with party leaders garlanding Raja and Kanimozhi and presenting them with shawls,” said the leader.
Former CEO of Kalaignar TV Sharad Kumar, who was an accused in the 2G case, was also present. DMK general secretary K Anbazhagan was among the few senior partymen who had arrived to welcome them.
Shortly after the exchanges with Kanimozhi and Raja, Karunanidhi came out to greet party cadres. On seeing him, cadres went into a frenzy with many vying to take selfies from a distance with their leader in the background. Karunanidhi waited for a while and raised his hand as though waving at those present and went back in. “All of us have been acquitted from the 2G case,” said an elated Raja and Karunanidhi acknowledged the remark with a smile.
Cadres, who gathered at Karunanidhi’s Gopalapuram residence, were jubilant. “I just need a picture of myself with the Gopalapuram residence in the background. I will upload it on Facebook and Instagram,” said M Muthupandi of Cuddalore. He had waited for more than an hour outside the Gopalapuram residence.
Kanimozhi later went to her residence at CIT Colony where folk artists performed and fireworks were set off. She was showered with flower petals. “I am not expecting new posts in the party but at the same time, I will not give up the women’s wing chief post,” Kanimozhi told reporters at her residence. She also thanked V K Sasikala’s nephew TTV Dhinakaran and niece Krishnapriya for welcoming the 2G case verdict acquitting them.
Earlier, DMK working president M K Stalin and senior party leaders welcomed Raja and Kanimozhi at the airport.
ALL SMILES: Raja and Kanimozhi being received at the Chennai airport on Saturday
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