PTI
 
Chennai, Jun 4: With the re-installation of the statue of Kannagi, heroine of the Tamil epic Silappadhikaram, the prestige and self-respect of Tamils had been redeemed, said Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, who unveiled the statue at Marinas in the city, on his 83rd birthday.
 
Describing the removal of Kannagi statue by the previous AIADMK government, as an `unjust’ act and a challenge to the self-respect of Tamils, Karunanidhi said "it was an attempt to destroy the culture of Tamils. Kannagi was a symbol of justice and courage."

Taking exception to criticism from a Tamil weekly, on the re-installation of the statue, Karunanidhi said "a few people are comparing Kannagi statue to bear-dolls used by children. They are instigating clashes in Tamil Nadu. When we are trying to revive the self-respect of Tamils, people should not stand in its way", he said.

Recalling how the statue was installed in January1968, during the World Tamil Conference, when DMK founder C N Annadurai was the Chief Minister, Karunanidhi said the removal of Kannagi statue was a conspiracy by a few who thought that Tamils had lost their feeling of self-respect.

However, immediately after the statue was removed, all the political parties, social organisations and all sections of the people in Tamil Nadu opposed the act and sought its re-installation.
 
Besides making a political statement by reinstalling the statue, the DMK chief also plans to fulfill the election promises. Infact, the first three weeks of his return to power have been focused on his poll promises.

As part of the birthday celebrations, the distribution of rice at Rs 2 per kilo began on Saturday. The distribution of rice through the Public Distribution System (PDS)is expected cost the state over Rs 500 crore.

The farmers' co-operative loans have also been waived off and that will cost the state over Rs 6,000 crore.

He has already announced that distribution of free colour TV's would begin on the September 15, but no exact estimate of the total cost is available.

"These promises are the immediate need of the people. This rice is not going to be short lived one, it will be there for the long term," says Organisation Secretary of the DMK, TKS Elangovan.

But experts fear that the focus on populism and symbolic gestures would result in core developmental and economic issues going right into the back burner.

"I am afraid that rice at Rs 2 per kg or free rice is not sustainable. And the major impact would be on the allocation for core developemental areas like infrastructure and education," says S Viswanathan, Editor, Industrial Economist

As the DMK readies to celebrate their leaders' birthday, amidst the big birthday bonanza, it's perhaps sound economics that's got lost in the politically loud promise of populism.