PTI

Chennai, Nov 5: Defending his poem praising slain LTTE leader Tamilselvan, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Sunday said it was "human nature to express condolence" and he sympathized with the death of the banned outfit's leader as he was a Tamil.

"The person killed in Sri Lanka was a Tamil. As Tamil blood is running in my body also, I expressed my condolence," he wrote in the DMK-mouthpiece Murasoli' The DMK patriarch said it was "a human nature to express condolence" even if a political rival passed away.

"On that basis only, I went and paid homage when senior AIADMK leader Nedunchezhiyan died," he added.

Reacting to AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa's demand that the Centre should dismiss his government for alleged violation of the Constitution by "supporting" the proscribed outfit, Karunanidhi stated that MDMK chief Vaiko, an ally of the AIADMK, had issued a statement appealing to the international community to condemn the killing of Tamilselvan.

"When Vaiko issues such a statement, she approves it. When I condole the death of Tamilselvan, she demands the dismissal of my government. She is very anxious to come back to power by any means. But, she needs the people's support for it," he said.

Expressing anguish over the death of Tamilselvan, the Chief Minister on Saturday penned a poem, praising his courage and mental strength.