Political parties in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday slammed the “insult” meted out to the statue of saint-poet Thiruvalluvar in Haridwar with PMK founder S. Ramadoss accusing BJP MP Tarun Vijay of using the Tamil icon for political ends.
Priests in Haridwar had protested against the installation of the statue and had criticised Mr. Vijay for “projecting Thiruvalluvar as a Dalit icon for political mileage”. The statue was then wrapped in a black sheet and kept at Haridwar’s Mela Bhavan.
In a strong statement, Mr. Ramadoss said the Uttarakhand government and the BJP MP were solely responsible for the statue being “dumped like trash” in Haridwar. “No one in Tamil Nadu sought the installation of the statue in Haridwar. Rather, Tarun Vijay, for the sake of publicity and to help organisations associated with him take root in Tamil Nadu, has enacted so many dramas as though he was an incarnation born to help the memory of Thiruvalluvar sustain,” he charged.
‘Painted with caste brush’
MDMK general secretary Vaiko said it was horrendous that Thiruvalluvar has been painted with a caste brush by religious fanatics. “Keeping in mind the sentiments of Tamils, the Uttarakhand government should ensure the statue is installed in a proper place on the banks of Ganges,” he added.
CPI State secretary R. Mutharasan said it was the irresponsibility of those who wanted to install the statue that has led to the current controversy and “insult” to the great poet, whose work has been accepted world over as a secular compendium. “Those who were instrumental in creating this controversy should openly apologise,” he said.
Noted lyricist Vairamuthu, in a statement, contended that what had been done to the statue of Thiruvalluvar was a shame for the entire country.
Ramadoss has accused BJP MP Tarun Vijay of using Thiruvalluvar to gain political mileage
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