M Karunanidhi’s bust put up illegally in Gudiyatham, removed by police

VELLORE: A bust of DMK supremo M Karunanidhi, which was installed without permission in Gudiyatham taluk, was removed by police officer early on Thursday.

According to police, DMK’s G R K Ramamoorthi, who is the Gudiyatham north district representative and an ardent supporter of the former party president and five-time chief minister, had in 2010 tried to construct a temple for Karunanidhi at Paradarami village on land falling under the highways department. Ramamoorthi had intended to place the two-and-ahalf-foot high bust inside the temple. After intervention of police officers and senior party functionaries, he was made to dismantle the half-built structure. On Tuesday evening, after news of the demise of Karunanidhi broke, Ramamoorthi had the bust repainted and installed it on a podium close to a flagpole bearing the party flag in the village. DMK workers, supporters and villagers paid their respects by garlanding the bust and burnedincensesticksin frontof it.

After heated arguments with DMK workers, police officials removed the bust and handed it back to Ramamoorthi on Thursday. Sources said this was the first bust of the Dravidian stalwart installed in the state after his demise.