Row over installation of Vivekananda statue

Chittoor: The Vivekananda statue committee had installed a statue of Swami Vivekananda near Kattamanchi Tank in the city without getting approval from the Chittoor Municipal Corporation (CMC).

A committee headed by Venugopala Naidu, who is also founder of the Vivekananda Educational Society, had sought permission from Municipal Commissioner to erect the statue. But, the civic officials rejected the proposal of the committee.

It may be mentioned here that city beautification committee headed by Chittoor MLA D A Satyaprabha had decided to construct a statue island near Gandhi Statue for relocating all the statues of national leaders into it from various locations in the city.

To make a way for construction of statue island, the civic officials have demolished 60-year-old Indian Red Cross Society building. Even, there is a proposal to demolish the building of I Town police station which is located adjoining to proposed site. In the above said circumstances, the CMC officials rejected the proposal of installing Vivekananda statue.

It is learnt that Vivekananda statue was installed at Kattamanchi Tank on last Sunday night, on the occasion of Vivekananda birth anniversary celebrations. Residents were surprised to know that statue was installed overnight.

The statue committee defended the decision of installing Vivekananda statue as he was one of the great Indian intellectual leaders. But, the civic officials have served notice to the committee members to remove it immediately.

According to official sources, the statue committee is planning to approach the High Court of Hyderabad over notice served by the CMC.