DK to install 128 Periyar statues in TN in 2007: Veeramani

Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, Dec 17 (UNI) Defending the Dravidar Kazhagam's (DK) action of installing Tamil Rationalist leader E V Ramasamy's statue near Srirangam temple, DK General Secretary K Veeramani said '' we Atheists, too, have the right to install the statues of Periyar, like the believers of god, who install the idol of Gods Addressing a public meeting here last night, after unveiling the life-size bronze statue of 'Periyar' near the Srirangam temple, Mr Veeramani said the party would install over 120 statues of Periyar at various places in Tamil Nadu next year. ''It is our right and no one can prevent it,'' he added.

Stating that DK was not against any individual Brahmin, but their ideology, he recalled the history of Periyar, campaigning for the victory of a Braimin candidate in the assembly elections in Srirangam.

'' We will not fight on our own, but, if anybody starts fighting against us, then we will not stop without finishing off,'' he warned.

We are neither sadhus nor sanyasis to remain patient forever, he added.

He said it is not for the first time the statue of Periyar was installed near a temple. We had earlier installed the statues near the temples at Chidambaram, Patteeswaram, among others.

He said Periyar statues were also installed near a mosque in Thanjavur and another one in front of a church at Dindigul. But, nobody had made a hue and cry about it.

Mr Veeramani said the decision to install Periyar statue at Srirangam was taken in 1970, when the erstwhile Srirangam municipality under the Chairmanship of Venkatesa Dikshitar passed a resolution to allocate the land for the purpose, despite the fact that there were seven Brahmin Councillors then. The resolution was passed unopposed, he added.

He also urged the State Government to initiate stringent action against those who desecrated Periyar statue here recently.

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