The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Relocation of EVR's statue demanded

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 19, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Relocation of EVR's statue demanded

Special Correspondent

`Its present location is hurting the religious sentiments of many'

CHENNAI: A host of organisations including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday demanded relocation of the newly unveiled statue of the Tamil rationalist leader E.V. Ramasamy in Srirangam from its present site to any place other than the vicinity of the Ranaganatha temple.

A delegation of leaders of the organisations called on the Governor Surjit Singh Barnala and presented a memorandum to him. Among those who were in the team were L. Ganesan, (BJP), Rama. Gopalan (Hindu Munnani), S. Rajindran (RSS), R.S. Narayanaswamy (VHP), N.M. Sukumar (Bharatiya Mazdur Sangh) and N. Sadagopan (Akhila Bharath Vidhyarthi Parishad).

The memorandum stated that the location of EVR statue near the temple hurt the "religious sentiments of lakhs of Hindu devotees." Also, the idol of Lord Ranganatha was taken out several times in a year to the River Cauvery for performing traditional temple rites. Anti-social elements might use such occasions to harass the sentiments of devotees. The delegation said it was not against the statue installation per se. The Government should pay "adequate compensation expeditiously" to those attacked recently by groups "claiming to be followers" of the ideology of EVR.

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