The C Joseph Vijay-led Tamil Nadu government’s proposal to establish an integrated memorial complex honouring five historical icons — E.V. Ramasamy, B.R. Ambedkar, Rani Velu Nachiyar, K. Kamaraj and Anjalai Ammal — on a portion of the University Union Grounds in Chetpet, Chennai, has sparked opposition from university officials, students and sportspersons.
The proposed memorial, announced on September 30 at an estimated cost of Rs 5 crore, is planned on the sprawling eight-acre University Union Grounds, which is the only common multipurpose sports facility available to the University of Madras. The proposal has triggered questions over the need for a new memorial when memorials for some of the personalities already exist.
Tamil Nadu government plans integrated memorial complex for BR Ambedkar, Velu Nachiyar, Periyar EV Ramasamy and Kamaraj on University Union Grounds Chetpet:
– A library is also being planned by the TVK government under CM Vijay
-Academics have opposed the move
News courtesy:… pic.twitter.com/SPHFtNmSYs— Super Chennai (@Super_Chennai_) September 30, 2026
TVK government’s proposals have always been opposed and resisted in Tamil Nadu and it has become a routine to roll back after opposition from the public and political parties. It was a tacit move to feel the pulse of the people and political leaders. Its new Assembly building at Chennai Foreshore Estate has faced stiff opposition from its ally, namely the Left parties and fishermen communities, besides the general public, BJP, PMK and others.
Soon after the memorial project was announced, political parties, students and Madras University officials voiced their opposition against such a move.
A delegation of university officials met the Higher Education Secretary on October 1 to express their concern. They brought to his notice that the proposed site is now being used by Physical Education directors and sportspersons.
The delegation, led by Madras University Registrar Rita John, met Secretary Dheeraj Kumar to convey their concern. The Secretary, it is learnt, has assured them that he would take up the matter with the authorities.
The Higher Education Department, in an attempt to downplay the issue, said, “No decision has been taken as yet regarding the transfer of land.”
University officials told the media that the ground should be spared as it is primarily used for sports and physical education activities.
They have appealed to the TVK government to examine the feasibility of the long-pending proposal for a swimming pool, tennis courts to meet modern requirements and a men’s hostel. It should be developed as a modern multi-sports facility and the proposed memorial should be located at some other place.
Meanwhile, 25 PED-affiliated colleges and over 100 sportspersons of the university presented a petition to the Registrar. They claimed that the tree cover in the campus would be affected if the memorial is built, while it would also affect the birds that have made their homes there.
They further said it would cause security issues, as unregulated visitors could become a threat to the security and safety of students, especially women.
The university officials, including faculty members, HoDs, staff and PED directors, opposed the project, saying, “Please do not sacrifice our varsity ground for your political icons.
They said that in the recent Asian Games held in Japan, university and alumni have won seven medals.
The ground is used by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) for league matches, inter-university competitions, zonal meets and college annual sports day events, as well as athletic training and track events throughout the year.
Critics argue that if the TVK wants to build memorials for E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker (Periyar) and other of its icons, if every political party wants to build icons, it will become a museum. Already SC objected to such memorials and statues at public places; rather, they can open a museum.
For E.V. Ramaswamy, Kamaraj and Ambedkar, memorials already exist. What is the need for another at the exchequer’s cost when the government is already facing a financial crunch? Instead of building memorials, let TVK leaders follow their ideals in letter and spirit.
It is believed that the TVK government sets its eyes on temple lands and educational institution properties, water bodies rather than using hectares of poromboke lands which are under illegal possession of politicians and so-called marginalised category.
They say already TVK’s new secretariat-cum-Assembly building project faces stiff opposition, now it plans another project when the by-elections are scheduled to be held soon. It is a diversionary attempt to hide its failures.
Recent RTI decision withdrawn after backlash
In the recent incident, the Tamil Nadu government led by Joseph Vijay rescinded a highly controversial order dated September 21 exempting the law-and-order machinery from the purview of the Right to Information Act (RTI) after facing backlash from political parties and the public. The government’s withdrawal came after the move drew criticism from multiple quarters.
TN govt exempts public (law and order) dept from RTI act.
Cites that it is an intelligence and security organisation. pic.twitter.com/SwyGSenAIW
— Omjasvin M D (@omjasvinMD) September 27, 2026
Earlier, the TVK government issued a GO that would have blocked access to records of custodial communal clashes and security-related detentions. The GO specified the Public (Law and Order) Department as an intelligence and security organisation established by the State Government to which the RTI Act shall not apply under Section 24 of the Act.
The wing deals with communal clashes, agitations involving political parties, students and agricultural labourers, and requests for withdrawal of cases registered on political grounds.
Nearly an hour after the GO was issued and outrage erupted on social media, TN Law Minister CTR Nirmal Kumar, in a post on the X platform, clarified: “Under Section 24 sub-section (4) of the Right to Information Act 2005, the exemption granted to Public (Law and Order) Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu have been withdrawn with respect to the Government Order issued by the Human Resources Management Department.”
He said the controversial GO had now been withdrawn. The September 21 order was subsequently revoked by the government.
The retracted GO had sought to classify the law-and-order wing as an intelligence and security organisation, putting it beyond the ambit of transparency rules governing public disclosure of information.
The Public (Law and Order) Department deals with subjects such as communal and caste clashes, the appointment of Commissions of Inquiry into law-and-order matters and follow-up action on their recommendations, all matters relating to COFEPOSA and NSA detentions, including representations by detenus and habeas corpus petitions or on their behalf in the High Court and the Supreme Court, and the conduct of monthly law-and-order meetings under the instructions of the Chief Secretary.
