On the occasion of Dravidian icon E V Ramasamy's 139th birth anniversary, a man hurled a shoe at the rationalist's statue in Chennai and another figure was vandalised near Tirupur on Monday, officials said.
Police said they are on the lookout for the miscreants who vandalised Periyar's statue at Dharapuram in Tirupur district, while the accused in Chennai was overpowered and arrested.
The ruling AIADMK, the main opposition DMK, its parent outfit DK and other political parties condemned the incidents.
AIADMK leader and Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar said, "Amma's (late Jayalalithaa) government will not tolerate such unacceptable acts. They (the culprits) will be brought to book. Stern action will be taken against them."