MDMK Chief Vaiko condemns desecration of Periyar statue in Coimbatore

Tension prevailed in Sundarapuram area of Coimbatore after some unidentified miscreants poured saffron colour on the statue. A complaint has been filed and protest was held by the MDMK party demanding the arrest of the culprits.

Tamil Nadu: Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) Chief Vaiko on Friday strongly condemned the act of some miscreants desecrating a statue of Periyar by pouring saffron paint on it. Saffron colour was allegedly thrown on social reformer EV Ramasamy Periyar's statue in Sundarapuram in Coimbatore on Friday.

A complaint has been filed by Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) workers in the matter. Periyar supporters and DMK workers gathered at the spot here.

According to cops, some unidentified miscreants poured saffron colour on the statue following which tension prevailed in the area. Supporters of Periyar and policemen cleaned the statue and some security personnel have been deployed in front of it.

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Taking to Twitter, DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi condemned this move stating that Periyar is not a mere statue but the path to social justice.

"Even after decades after his demise Periyar is still the one who sets the narrative. He is not a mere statue but the path to self-respect and social justice including those who smear him with colours," Kanimozhi tweeted.

The opposition party staged a protest and demanded that the ADMK government should take immediate actions. (With ANI inputs)