Periyar Arivulagam books row: political leaders raise concern over allegations, call for action

Political leaders have raised concerns over allegations of irregularities in the procurement of books for the newly inaugurated Periyar Arivulagam public library in Coimbatore. The controversy was sparked after writer Perumal Murugan accused the publishing house Akalvilakku Publications of creating books with fabricated information, potentially damaging the reputation of the Tamil language.

Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder and Rajya Sabha Member Kamal Haasan called for immediate action, stating that the responsible party has betrayed the Tamil language. He urged the Tamil Nadu government to withdraw the fake books from all libraries and destroy them. Manithaneya Makkal Katchi president and MLA M.H. Jawahirullah expressed shock and concern, calling for an independent committee to examine the books and investigate the publishing houses.

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president and Virudhunagar MP B. Manickam Tagore alleged that the DMK government was riddled with corruption, making the procurement of books seem far from scandalous. He demanded an investigation into the registration, addresses, owners, and activities of the suspect publishers, including Akalvilakku Publications.

PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss urged the State government to investigate the allegations of corruption surrounding the library's procurement of books. He highlighted the price discrepancy between other publishers and Akalvilakku Publications and requested an investigation by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption. AMMK founder T.T.V. Dhinakaran also called for an audit of libraries across the state and removal of any fake books.