Leaders flay tying of saffron cloth in railing around Anna statue in Kumari

Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam slammed the “insult” and warned the government will take strict action against those desecrating statues of leaders. The incident in Kulithurai in the district comes close on the heels of a statue of reformist leader EVR Periyar in Coimbatore being daubed with saffron paint. “I strongly condemn the insult to the statue of Anna by miscreants who had also tied a saffron cloth. The Amma government will take stringent action against those insulting leaders and affecting law and order and disrupting social harmony,” he tweeted.

Reacting strongly, DMK president MK Stalin hit out at such “repeated lowly” acts. “Since they have no individuality, they are targeting such great late leaders,” he tweeted. MDMK founder Vaiko, S Ramdoss of the PMK, DK leader K Veeramani and AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran also slammed it.