TN government will soon decide to unveil the statue of actor Sivaji in Tiruchi: Minister

The Sivaji Ganesan statue was covered after its unveiling in 2017 in Palakkarai in Tiruchi. File | Picture source: M. Srinath

The Tamil Nadu government will take steps after consultation with Chief Minister MK Stalin to announce the statue of late actor Sivaji Ganesan in Tiruchi, Minister Nehru informed the conference on Monday (21 April 2025). Although the statue was installed by his fans, it could not be unveiled due to the Supreme Court’s ruling in this regard.

Mr Nehru said that uncovering some of the problems with the statue at the current location will take steps to install it in different locations. The minister said that it should be based on Tiruchi East Mla S.

Earlier, when Mr Irudayaraj asked for the unveiling of the statue, Minister of Information and Propaganda Saminathan clarified that the statue was not installed by his department but by fans of the late actor. He further referred to the Supreme Court case, which prevented the unveiling of the statue at the site.

Nehru said that despite the once DMK government granted the necessary permission for the statue of Tiruchi, changes followed, with the Supreme Court’s ruling and “some political reasons” preventing the unveiling of the statue.

Christian missionary statue

As for the request to install the statue of the late Christian missionary Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg, who introduced and developed printing in India, Mr Saminathan said that steps in this regard are underway.

Mr Saminathan recalled that Chief Minister MK Stalin had allocated the statue of Rs 3 crore in Mayiladuthurai, and he said that 40 cents of land had been allocated in this regard and would be issued soon.