The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Sunday decided to make changes to a life-sized bronze statue of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, which was unveiled at the party headquarters in Chennai on Saturday as part of her 70th birthday celebrations. The decision was made after some party cadre and social media users said the statue did not resemble her.
Tamil Nadu Development Minister K Pandiarajan said there was a proposal to make a few changes to the statue’s facial features, The Hindu. The statue will be installed at the same place once the changes are made, he said.
Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar said unveiling Jayalalithaa’s statue was a matter of pride not just for the AIADMK but for Tamils worldwide, The News Minute reported. Tamil Nadu Minister for Information and Publicity Kadambur Raju said the sculptor would make the changes himself.
Dairy Minister KT Rajenthra Balaji said he found the statue “quite realistic”. “It quite resembles the way Amma used to wave at us whenever she came to the party head office,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the Amma Scooter Scheme – a flagship programme of the AIADMK government – on Jayalalithaa’s birth anniversary on Saturday. Under the scheme, the state government offers a Rs 25,000 subsidy for women to buy two-wheelers.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!