AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa on Thursday contested Chief Minster M. Karunanidhi's claim that the DMK was the only party that constructed memorials for freedom fighters, saying the AIADMK regime had also honoured many freedom fighters in a similar manner.
In a statement here, Ms. Jayalalithaa said her government constructed memorials for freedom fighters and leaders, including V.O. Chidambaram, Rajaji and Rettamalai Srinivasan.
“I would like to remind the Chief Minister that it was my government that converted the house of Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar into a memorial.”
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A pillar in the memory of former Chief Minister Kamaraj and a bronze bust of Tirupur Kumaran were erected during her tenure as Chief Minister.
The memorial for Rajiv Gandhi in Sriperumpudur, manimandapam for Quaid-e-Millet, memorial for Periyar in Vaikom, conversion of Tamil scholar U.V. Swaminatha Iyer's house into a memorial were some of the achievements of her government.
Land for Ambedkar Manimandapam was allotted by the AIADMK government and foundation stone was laid.
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Proposal
On the memorial for Omandur Ramasamy Reddiyar, former Chief Minister, promised by Mr. Karunanidhi at a function in Villupuram, she said land for the project was acquired in 2004 in his village during the AIADMK rule. A proposal for the memorial at a cost of Rs.75 lakh was prepared and a date fixed for laying the foundation stone.
Ms. Jayalalithaa alleged that the DMK government in 2006 rejected the proposal for the memorial.