The row over allotment of burial space for DMK chief M Karunanidhi shows no signs of abating, with party leader M K Stalin on Tuesday saying he literally 'pleaded' with Chief Minister K Palaniswami for space on the Marina beachfront.

The government, on its part, maintained that its decision to allot burial space for the Dravidian stalwart elsewhere was taken considering legal issues, but asserted it gave "unprecedented respect" to the leader by ensuring state honours.