Jayalalithaa contests MK’s claim on memorials

CHENNAI: Rubbishing Chief Minister M Karunanidhi’s claim that the DMK was the only party that created memorials for freedom fighters, AIADMK party general secretary J Jayalalithaa on Thursday said the previous government, headed by her, had created several “manimandapams” in honour of great leaders in the State.In a statement, the opposition leader listed out the memorials created by her government. In Tirunelveli, a memorial was erected for Kappalottiya Tamizhan V O Chidambaranar at a cost of Rs 75 lakh. At Krishnagiri district, oneacre plot was identified for the Rajaji memorial. In Erode, three hectares of land was acquired at a cost of Rs 19.67 lakh for a memorial for Dheeran Chinnamalai.Steps were taken to build a memorial for Dalit leader Rettaimalai Srinivasan and convert the house of Muthuramalinga Thevar into a memorial at Madurai. A foundation stone was laid for a memorial pillar at a cost Rs 14 lakh for former chief minister Kamaraj in Virudhunagar.Taking a dig at Karunanidhi, Jayalalithaa said credit should go him for getting a portrait of former Union minister Murasoli Maran installed in Parliament, without any request from any quarters.On Karunanidhi’s announcement on building a memorial for Omandurar Ramaswamy Reddiar at a public meeting in Villupuram, Jayalalithaa reminded the DMK chief that the previous government, headed by her, had in 2004 acquired 0.48 hectares of land and allotted Rs 75 lakh for building a memorial for Omandurar in Villupuram. But there was a change in government in 2006 and the DMK regime took over.Jayalalithaa pointed out that the PWD chief engineer (buildings) sent a note to the government regarding the memorial for Omandurar for which the government had replied “your request will not be considered at present.” The AIADMK leader wanted to know whether the chief minister was speaking out of ignorance or was he under the impression that he could get away with anything without his statements being challenged.