Chennai: The Chennai Corporation wiped clean the electoral symbol (the rising sun) of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) which was painted on a small portion of the parapet wall of the Arcot Road flyover on Thursday.
The Corporation employed two persons to paint over the symbols in order to cover it up. Reacting sharply to the development, former Mayor M. Subramanian questioned the motive behind the Corporation’s actions.
“We condemn the action. The Corporation under Saidai Duraisamy has taken over most of the city’s walls and are using it to advertise for Chief Minister Jayalalithaa,” he said.
“If you look at the YMCA wall in Nandanam or the Kottur bridge in Kotturpuram, it has been completely taken over by the AIADMK. We will need a fresh coat of white cement before we can paint over their graffiti. But will the Corporation whitewash these portions?” he asked.
Subramanian added that under his period as Mayor of the city, the Chennai Corporation had painted walls of public buildings with colorful portraits depicting the history and culture of Tamil Nadu. Duraisamy-led council, after it assumed charge, whitewashed all of these.
“Our idea was taken to Karnataka by then Chief Minister Yeddyurappa. The DMK has a wish to keep the city’s walls clean. But they (AIADMK) will not permit it,” Subramanian added.
Corporation officials, however, maintained that they were merely keeping their properties clean.
“The politicians are rubbishing our property sticking posters and painting graffiti on them. The Arcot Road bridge was only recently painted by us and they (DMK) defaced it by painting their symbols on it,” said an official.
The Corporation can complaint against miscreants sticking posters and painting illegal political advertisements on their property under Section 4 (1) of the Tamil Nadu Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1959. When questioned if they will be booking political offenders, officials said that it was hard to find out who was responsible for the mess.
“Every day our workers remove tons of wall posters. The ones who stick it should realise how they are making their own city ugly. Unless they change their attitudes, this will be a big problem,” a senior official said.
