“Vandalisation of statue of Periyar, the man who stood for social justice, by miscreants in Tiruchirappalli is highly condemnable. State government will take stern action against those anti-social elements involved in the incident,” said Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, in a tweet.

Polticians while condemning the incident urged state government to take stringent action on the miscreants responsible for the incident.

“Statue of former leaders being continuously vandalised in the state is not acceptable. State government should prevent such incidents with iron hands”, said AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran, in a tweet.

VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan in a tweet said, “#saffron_disorder: The casteist-communal-orthodox-racist-purist-superstitious fanatic groups who spread hatred against Thanthai Periyar and Dravidian politics are now indulging in such vandalism. VCK vehemently condemns this disgraceful act. Punish the culprits”.

Even BJP state President L Murugan condemned the incident. “The indecent act of saffron paint smeared on Periyar’s statue is highly condemnable and persons behind the incident should be arrested. Saffron is holy and has the character of accommodating everyone but is not right to use saffron for anti-social activities”, said Murugan, in a statement.