Political parties in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday expressed concern over a statue of Tamil saint-poet Thiruvalluvar reportedly lying wrapped in a park in Haridwar after efforts by a BJP MP to install it on the banks of river Ganga failed allegedly due to protests from local sadhus.
MDMK, PMK and TMC(M) cited media reports in this regard and urged the Uttarakhand government to take steps for the due installation of the statue.
BJP Rajya Sabha member Tarun Vijay, known for his penchant for the Tamil language, had attempted to install the 12-feet tall statue on the banks of river Ganga but reportedly could not do so following protests from local sadhus.
Pictures purportedly showing the statue being wrapped in a plastic cover and lying in a park there had been published in a section of the media.
"Such an insult to Thiruvalluvar is unpardonable. Respecting the sentiments of Tamils, the Uttarakhand government should take steps for the due installation of the statue on the banks of river Ganga," MDMK founder Vaiko said.
In a statement, he alleged that 'Hindutva' elements were behind the failed installation attempt of the statue.
He also demanded Tamil Nadu government's intervention in the matter.
PMK founder S Ramadoss expressed "shock" over the matter and said such an 'insult' to the poet was "condemnable".
He demanded that the state government bring back the statue, which had travelled from Namakkal recently, to Tamil Nadu and install it in Chennai or Madurai.
TMC (M) leader and former Union Minister GK Vasan sought avoiding "unnecessary controversy" on the matter and urged the statue be installed at an appropriate location.
Tarun Vijay had been promoting Tirukkural, a classic Tamil treatise comprising 1,330 couplets or Kurals dealing with various aspects of life and authored by Thiruvalluvar.