Periyar statue: Jaya accuses 'politically influential people'

Chennai, Dec 14 (UNI) AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa today said she suspected the recent vandalisation of Periyar statue in Srirangam to be a ''premeditated act by certain politically influential people who owned media houses.'' ''It is not a mere coincidence that the Periyar's statue was damaged on the day, the statue of AIADMK Founder M G Ramachandran was unveiled in Parliament House as a result of my intense effort,'' she said in a statement here.

She said there was room for suspicion that the incident could have been pre-planned to prevent the news on unveiling of MGR statue gaining importance.

Claiming that such incidents had happened in the past, Ms Jayalalithaa cited the bomb hoax in Parliament on the day she met the Prime Minister in New Delhi to present a memorandum seeking flood relief for Tamil Nadu during her tenure.

The rumour emanated from the South, but till now the culprit had not been caught despite an investigation by Central agencies, she added.

Stating that the vandalisation of Periyar statue was a matter of grief and shame, the AIADMK Supremo said it was the duty of everyone to preserve the name and fame of the social reformer.

Exploiting the incident, some people had attacked temples and idols of Hindu gods besides targeting a certain section of the Hindus. It was highly condemnable that the state government had remained a mere spectator to the attacks, she charged.

Ms Jayalalithaa said the DMK Government had failed in its duty to ensure protection to all sections of the society.

UNI AKN MIR DS1435