Tamil Nadu's political parties including DMK, today condoled the death of former South African President Nelson Mandela and paid tributes to his contributions to the anti-apartheid movement in that country.
DMK chief M Karunanidhi recalled that in the midst of a party conference in Tiruchirappalli in May 1990, he had announced with much joy Mandela's release from a South African prison, asking his partymen to welcome that with a huge round of applause which, he said, took a long time to subside.
In an apparent reference to the late leader's jail term covering nearly three decades, the DMK chief said that his life of sacrifice was a lesson not just to the youth of that country, but to all those persons inhabiting the globe.
"As long as freedom movements exist in this world, Nelson Mandela's legacy will remain," he said in a party statement.
MDMK leader Vaiko also condoled the death of the peace icon, saying his demise had left the entire world grieving.
Mandela's death had shocked the entire globe but his fame would continue to remain forever, Vaiko said in a statement.
DMDK founder and Opposition Leader in the state Assembly, Vijayakant and PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss also condoled Mandela's death.
