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A Pandora's box is opened

NT Bureau
Chennai, Dec 10:

The long history

        In 1973, the 144 sq ft of land in front of Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam was assigned to Suyamariyadi Iyakkam, an offshoot of the Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) by the then DMK government. However it is said the government did not specify the reason for which the land was given to the social outfit. 

        In the early 1980s during the AIADMK rule, the entire stretch of road in front of the temple was brought under the administrative control of the State Highways department as a result of the initiative of the then AIADMK Minister Soundararajan. 

        Meanwhile, the violence in southern districts in 1990s between some communities prompted the then DMK government to issue a government order which prohibited installation of statues in public places without prior permission of the government.

        After the current DMK government took over, a masked life-size statue of Periyar EVR was installed in front of Srirangam temple and a date for formal inauguration was set. 

        However, a devotee went to Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court seeking an injunction against the inaugural of the statue. It then came to be known that the statue committee did not have the sanction of the government.

        The court refused to give specific relief but asked the committee 'to take the government's sanction' before going ahead with the inauguration. 

        From the beginning, a key element violation of government order in the installation of Periyar statue has escaped notice, many feel.

        The idea of a Periyar statue in Srirangam, the partial demolition episdoe, the widespread attacks on Hindu temples, instituitions and Brahmins has come a full and vicious circle and yesterday's sudden unveiling of the statue in the controversial location would have far reaching consequences than what is felt now.

        Amid continuing opposition to the installation of Periyar statue in front of the Srirangam temple and pending Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petitions in the Madras High Court, in a strategic move, the leadership of the Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) chose to unveil the statue of EV Ramaswamy yesterday on the very same spot where a concrete statue of the late rationalist leader was damaged by activists of a Hindu outfit.

        The DK had earlier announced that the statue would be formally declared open on 16 December. However, it chose to go ahead with the 'opening plan' in an unobtrusive manner which is largely seen as a preemptive move to thwart attempts to hold up the unveiling of the statue at the controversial location on 16 December.

        'Though the statue has been opened, a conference would be held on 16 December to remove superstition', DK leader Veeramani said.

        It may be noted that the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court is already seized of the matter and it had wanted the Periyar Statue Installation Committee to open the statue only after obtaining the sanction of the government.

        It was also said the government had not accorded 'formal sanction' for unveiling the statue in front of the famed Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Tiruchy. It is not known whether the government had given permission to open the statue at the place.

        Meanwhile, one more writ petition was filed in the Madras High Court on 8 December seeking to restrain the DK from opening the statue.

        In this background, the DK chose to open the statue without making any noise which may have attracted 'adverse attention'. Hindu Munnai leader Ramagopalan had recently asked the compelling reasons for stressing the statue just in front of the temple, despite knowing fully well that it would hurt the sentiments of Hindus.

        It is said it may now plead in the portals of justice for a status quo ante saying the installation was already over and it was 'not opposed' by the local people and the government of the day also supports the statue! This is plain chicanery. But the whole statue installation is all about that.

        Whichever way the issue is resolved the government and the DK may have to answer a lot of questions. If the statue was allowed to remain in the place where it has been installed now it would set a new precedent which would only help further deterioration of the already fragile communal situation.

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