CHENNAI: High drama prevailed at Haridwar in Uttarakhand after protests by sadhus against installation of Tamil saint Tiruvalluvar’s statue on the banks of river Ganga, forcing the organisers to shift the bust to the premises of a Travellers’ Bungalow where it was inaugurated on Wednesday. The much-touted unveiling ceremony was marred by protests from sadhus who took objection to Tiruvalluvar’s bust being installed at ‘Sankaracharya Chowk’ on the banks of the Ganga. Since the protesters gheraoed the area where it was being installed since last evening, the organisers and Uttarakhand government shifted the bust to a near-by premises owned by the government.
The sadhus contended that Tiruvalluvar statue cannot be installed at the chowk since it is a “sacred area” and that none other than those believe in Sakaracharya can “stay” there. Since the government and organisers failed convincing them, they removed the bust from the location, which was yet to be installed. After much drama and protests, the bust was finally brought to Travellers’ Bungalow in the holy town after the state government allowed organiser and BJP MP Tarun Vijay to conduct the programme on the premises.
The bust was unveiled on Wednesday morning by Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik at a low-key ceremony attended by Meghalaya Governor Shanmuganathan and Congress MP Sudharsana Natchiappan. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat and his cabinet colleagues skipped the event at the last minute. “It is a historical moment for the entire country since Tiruvalluvar statue has been unveiled in Haridwar. We are all proud of the Tamil language and its roots,” Mr Vijay said, without talking about the controversy.
