Elangovan opposes any move to remove stone inscription

Former union minister E V K S Elangoavan today opposed any move to remove a stone inscription installed by his great grandfather and father of rationalist leader E V Ramasamy "Periyar" at a temple here.
Elangovan visited the Lord Kasturi Aranganathar temple, under the control of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious Charitable Endowments department, this morning and submitted a petition to the authorities in this regard, temple sources said.
A former state Congress chief, Elangovan said he learnt that some Hindu outfits were demanding removal of the stone since it was placed by Periyar's family.
The petition, submitted on behalf of the family, stated that Venkatappa Naickker, father of Periyar, decades ago donated the stone inscription and it was installed in the front portion of the temple and it should not be removed.

Temple sources said the officials informed Elangovan that the stone might be temporarily removed in view of proposed renovation work but assured it would be re-installed at the same place.
Some locals claimed that Venkatappa had placed the stone as a mark of gratitude to the God for blessing him and his wife with the male child (Periyar).
Periyar (1879-1973) was a rationalist leader and fountain of Dravidian ideology who led the Dravidian Movement in Tamil Nadu championing the cause of subaltern classes.