Kannagi statue reinstalled on Marina

Chennai, June 3 (UNI) The statue of Kannagi, a symbol of the chastity of Tamil women, removed by the previous AIADMK government and gathering dust at the Government Museum since, is back on the Marina.

Chief Minister M Karunanidhi celebrated his 83rd birthday by unveiling the statue of the epic heroine who is a symbol of Tamil womanhood and the Tamils' quest for justice at an impressive function on the Marina this evening.

The reinstallation of the statue at the same spot from where it was removed by the previous AIADMK regime on December 10, 2001, marked the fulfillment of one of Mr Karunanidhi's poll promises.

During campaign he had promised to reinstal the Kannagi statue.

Incidentally, Mr Karunanidhi as Public Works Minister in the first DMK Ministry led by C N Annadurai was instrumental in installing the statue in January 1968 during the second World Tamil Conference here.

The 10-foot statue was removed during the previous AIADMK regime on the ground that it hindered traffic on the busy Kamarajar Road, after a claim that a truck hit the pedestal of the statue.

Mr Karunanidhi's Cabinet colleagues, including Finance Minister K Anbazhagan, Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran, Tamil scholar Avvai Natarajan, poet and lyricist Vairamuthu were among others who were present on the occasion.

More UNI WS AA RR HS1959