Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has ordered the installation of a life-sized statue of former Prime Minister V.P. Singh in Chennai as a tribute to his contributions towards social justice. The statue will be placed at the Presidency College complex in the city to commemorate Singh’s birth anniversary. Stalin had announced the decision in the State Assembly in April under Rule 11.
Singh had implemented a 27% reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBC) in Central government jobs based on the recommendations of B.P. Mandal, chairman of the Second Backward Classes Commission. Stalin praised Singh’s contributions as Chief Minister, Union Minister, and Prime Minister and stated that Singh’s tenure as the Prime Minister may have only lasted eleven months, but his achievements were immense.
During his life, Singh fought for the rights of the oppressed classes and the poor, even while undergoing dialysis treatment. He also held great respect for the late DMK Patriarch and former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, regarding him as his own brother and following his principles and ideology.
Stalin says that the statue will be a grand tribute to express Tamil society’s gratitude towards Singh and his contributions towards social justice. The statue’s placement will be an opportunity for Tamil people and the Tamil society to appreciate Singh’s efforts in supporting their cause.
The decision to install Singh’s statue demonstrates the Tamil Nadu government’s commitment to recognizing and honoring those who have made significant contributions towards social justice. It is also a reminder to society to continue to uphold these values, which can spur them towards inclusion and progress.
