BJP leader H Raja's comments on Periyar statue triggers row

Raja’s comment drew instant and strong reaction from almost all the opposition parties in the state.

On Tuesday, H Raja tweeted; “Who is Lenin? What is the connection between Lenin and India? What is the link between India and communism? Lenin’s statue has been razed in Tripura. Lenin’s statue in Tirpura today. Tomorrow, it will be caste fanatic EV Ramasamy’s statue in Tamil Nadu.” 

Reacting to the tweet, DMK working president MK Stalin said; “Nobody ‘qualifies’ to touch the statue of Periyar. BJP leader H Raja is continuously making such provocative statements. He should be detained under goondas Act.” Seconding his view, CPI state secretary R Mutharasan said the BJP leader has commented so with the malicious intention to turn peaceful TN in to riot zone. Demanding his arrest, CPIM state secretary K Balakrishnan said the intimidations of the BJP leader were continuing because of the failure to prevent such provocative statements in the past. 

An agitated @khushbusundar took to Twitter and said; “Let’s see if BJP has the guts to expel the dirty raja.. and I challenge this sort.. give a date to break the statue of #Periyar...” The Congress spokesperson also wondered “spineless @AIADMK govt” of AIADMK, who have been bitter critics of Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, to react to condemn the BJP’s leaders remark. 

The most bitter of reactions came from MDMK leader Vaiko who warned in Erode this afternoon that any person daring to touch the statue of Periyar would have their hands chopped. 

VCK leader Thol Tirumavalavan said; “Even the grandfather of H Raja cannot dare touch the statue of Periyar.” RK Nagar MLA TTV Dinakaran condemned Raja for the remark and asked the BJP to abstain from making such irresponsible comments. 

Raja pulled his tweet even before the opposition parties took him to task. Later in the day, Kamal Haasan in a tweet said, “Dear Stalin, Vaiko, Thirumavalavan and Seeman, do not waste your voice unnecessarily. If they promise that all statues will be removed, we will assent to the removal of the Periyar statue.

The comments of BJP national secretary H Raja was his personal one and the party has nothing to do with, said BJP State unit president, Tamilisai Soundararajan, in Tirunelveli, on Tuesday.  “Raja’s comments are not the official stand of the party”, said Tamilisai. Regarding the razing of Lenin’s statue, she replied that BJP cadre were not involved in the act.