CHENNAI: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday renewed his request to the Centre not to attach or affiliate the Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT) in Chennai to the Central University at Tiruvarur or any other university, and instead take steps to strengthen this institution so that it would graduate as a centre of research and learning in classical Tamil.
“I would like to reiterate that the Tamil Nadu government has handed over 17 acres of land at Perumbakkam, Kancheepuram district, for the construction of a permanent building for the CICT,” the Chief Minister said in a letter in response to the reply of Union Minister of Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar regarding the CICT issue.
Palaniswami also pointed out that the Centre had already sanctioned `24 crore and the Central Public Works Department had already commenced the civil work. “In the above circumstances, I request you to kindly drop any move to attach/affiliate this institute to the Central University, Tiruvarur or any other university and protect the autonomous character of the institute.”
Reports about the Centre’s move to merge CICT in Chennai with the CUT had in July triggered strong opposition in Tamil Nadu. Later, Javadekar denied it and assured the Rajya Sabha that “the CICT’s status will not be disturbed.”