Lee Kuan Yew' death 'irreparable loss to Tamils': Karunanidhi, Rajnikanth condole Singapore's founding father's death

DMK Chief M Karunanidhi, PMK leader S Ramadoss and superstar Rajnikanth on Tuesday condoled the death of Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew, saying it was during the period of Yew that Singapore was transformed from a port city to a commercial city.

Stating that Yew played a major role in the independence of Singapore, Karunanidhi in a statement said he still remembers how Yew gave a rousing reception along with his cabinet colleagues when DMK founder CN Annadurai made a visit to Singapore in 1965. "Yew earned the love of Tamils, Chinese and ethnic Malays," Karunanidhi said, adding that it was because of Yew that Tamil was made as one of the official languages of Singapore.

PMK leader S Ramadoss, in his statement, said the demise of Yew was an "irreparable loss to Tamils". Yew had concern for the welfare of Eelam Tamils, Ramadoss said, adding that it was Yew who described "the killing of innocent Tamils in Sri Lanka as a genocide".

Rajinikanth condoled the death of Yew, saying "Indeed a dark day as a leader I admired has passed on". "I feel your sorrow S'pore. A true loss of a path-breaking politician," he tweeted. 

Indeed a dark day as a leader I admired has passed on. I feel your sorrow S'pore. A true loss of a path breaking politician. #RIPLeeKuanYew

— Rajinikanth (@superstarrajini) March 23, 2015