Periyar statue vandalised in Tamil Nadu's Kancheepuram amid row over rationalist leader's views on Hindu gods

Chennai: A statue of rationalist leader EV Ramasamy Periyar was found vandalised in neighbouring Kancheepuram district on Friday morning, police said. [caption id=“attachment_5200811” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of another Periyar statue in Tamil Nadu. ANI[/caption] The statue at Salavakkam in the district was found damaged this morning causing a flutter in the locality. Political leaders condemned the vandalism. The incident comes in the backdrop of a renewed debate on Periyar in Tamil Nadu, after superstar Rajinikanth had made some remarks about the Dravidian stalwart at an event in Chennai last week. On 14 January, taking part at the event held by Tamil magazine Thuglak, Rajinikanth had alleged: “In 1971, at Salem, Periyar took out a rally in which the undressed images of Lord Sriramachandramoorthy and Sita -with a garland of sandal-featured….” drawing the ire of pro-Periyar outfits and political parties. DMK President MK Stalin and PMK founder S Ramadoss lashed out at the vandalism incident and demanded strict action against those involved in damaging the statue of the rational leader.