Naam Tamilar Katchi leader Seeman has kicked up yet another political storm by claiming that, given a chance, he will look to replace the statues of non-Tamil icons in the state with those of natives. The problem? He used former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and the slain brigand Veerappan as examples for each respectively.
The Naam Tamilar Katchi coordinator made the controversial remarks while addressing a campaign meeting on Friday near the statue of the former Prime Minister, who was killed in an LTTE bomb blast near Chennai.
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The people of Tamil Nadu are seeking political change, and the upcoming election would alter the southern state’s political landscape, he reportedly said in Chennai. It was then that he reportedly pointed to the statue of Rajiv Gandhi, which he declared was “unwanted”.
According to a DT Next report, Seeman declared that even coastal memorials across Tamil Nadu will be removed and replaced with those of Tamil leaders. Backward caste activist and politician Rettaimalai Srinivasan, author and trade unionist M. Singaravelar, Tamil ruler Alagumuthukon, and communist leader P. Jeevanandham were among the leaders for whom he wanted to build statues. Also included in the list was Veerappan—the infamous poacher, smuggler, and bandit responsible for killing several police officers and civilians.
He further said that memorials of leaders along the Marina beachfront—including those of M.G. Ramachandran, M. Karunanidhi, and J. Jayalalithaa—would be demolished, the DT Next report added. Seeman claimed they were encroachments along the capital city's coastline.
Comparing Rajiv Gandhi to Veerappan was not taken lightly by the Tamil Nadu unit of the Congress party. However, the NTK camp has so far resolutely defended their leader, who is contesting the upcoming assembly polls from the Karaikudi constituency.
Tamil Nadu is going to polling booths on April 23.
