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| The statue of Mahatma Gandhi covered in Oldpet, Krishnagiri |
It appears that the staff or the officials involved in
ensuring adherence to the model code of conduct in force for the Lok
Sabha elections got carried away in enforcing the code on statues in
Krishnagiri. Two statues of the Father of the Nation – Mahatma Gandhi –
were also covered, as if he had been just another political leader. One
statue is in Krishnagiri and the other in Hosur, officials confirmed on
Tuesday evening.
The officials explained that the
statue in Hosur was covered by the employees of the Hosur Municipality
inadvertently and the cover was removed in the evening after some media
persons sought clarification on this, said Municipal Councillor M.
Elangovan.
As many as seven statues of political
leaders were covered including that of Appavu Pillai, former Chairman of
Hosur Town Panchayat.
The statue of Mahatma Gandhi
at Pazhayapet in Krishangiri was also covered and even the local people
had not noticed it for some time, said P. Ashok Kumar, Commissioner of
Krishnagiri Municipality. “I went to the spot immediately after getting
the information around 5 p.m. But, by then the cover was removed,” he
said.
When contacted by
The Hindu
(NEWSPAPER), District Election Officer and Collector T.P. Rajesh clarified through
SMS: “Yes. Mahatma Gandhi-ji statue are not covered in MCC (Model Code of
Conduct). He is exempted.”
