Tamil Nadu government seeks two years to shift Sivaji statue

In its appeal, the state government challenged a Madras high court order directing shifting of the statue by November 16 and refusing to grant time for doing so. It wanted an interim stay of the operation of HC verdict.

In its special leave petition, the state said the high court was informed that the statue will be shifted and relocated inside the memorial for Sivaji Ganesan soon after the completion of construction at the site located at Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai as per the announcement of Chief Minister, J. Jayalalithaa on August 26.

The principal secretary, highways department informed the court that several departments of the government were involved in relocating the statue to the proposed memorial. The completion of the memorial did not fall within the purview of the highways department alone and the same was under the purview of the other departments also. The official accordingly pleaded for some more time for filing of the revised schedule for the completion of the construction of the memorial.

However, the high court, while declining the prayer, directed the principal secretary to file the compliance report vide the impugned order herein. The state said it intends to comply with the order and has no intention to circumvent it. It does not want to hurt the sentiments of people by uprooting the statue without having it placed at an equally dignified place. The late Sivaji Ganesan was a veteran Tamil

actor who performed the role of freedom fighters in his movies and thereby inculcated patriotism in the hearts and minds of Tamil youth. Moreover, he has a huge fan following. Their sentiments need to the respected, the state said and pleaded for at least two years time for shifting the statue.