more-in Industrialists in the State reacted strongly to the news of TVS Motor Company Chairman Venu Srinivasan being named in an FIR relating to idol thefts from temples and sought urgent government intervention. “We are deeply pained by the news…. As an elder statesman and as one of the most philanthropic of industrialists in South India, his [Venu Srinivasan] work in the social and religious fields are widely known and well documented,” industrialists said in a statement. The statement was signed by T. Kannan, Chairman and Managing Director of Thiagarajar Mills; N.M. Manickam, CMD Sakthi Sugars; Sanjay Jayavarthanavelu, CMD of LMW; P.R. Venketrama Raja, Chairman of Ramco Group; Vijay Sankar, Deputy Chairman of Sanmar Group and Vinod Dasari, MD of Ashok Leyland. “We have always admired the foresight with which he combined temple restoration with rural upliftment. His efforts at adding to the income of rural families through gainful employment of women is probably one of the best models of social development,” they said. The industrialists also noted that many of their companies had, in their own ways, contributed to similar efforts across Tamil Nadu by following Mr. Srinivasan’s example and had seen immediate improvement in both temple upkeep and development of surrounding areas. “We are now forced to ask ourselves the question if we would be bold enough to undertake such activities in an atmosphere vilified by fake charges and possible public humiliation,” they said. “It would be a deterrent for the industrial community to engage in social welfare programs or restoration of ancient heritage buildings including temples,” they added. In a separate statement, R. G. Chandramogan, Managing Director, Hatsun Agro, said that naming Mr. Venu Srinivasan in an FIR was totally unfortunate. “Penalising such meritorious people will set a wrong example,” he said, seeking the State government’s intervention to set right the anomaly.

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