Statue will be installed: CM

Statue will be installed: CM

August 4th, 2009
By Our Correspondent

Bengaluru, Aug. 3: The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi, and his cabinet colleagues will attend the inauguration of the statue of Tiruvalluvar on August 9.
On Monday, Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa took into confidence the leaders of Opposition parties and requested them to support the event in the interest of cordial relations between two southern states. He sought to dispel the apprehensions of Kannada activists, quoting a decision of the Tamil Nadu government as early as May 25 on installation of the statue of Sarvajna. “During my recent visit to Chennai, I met Mr Karunanidhi and we mutually agreed to unveil the statues,” he said.
Mr Yedddyurappa also announced that a train-full of Kannadigas, comprising ministers, politicians, bureaucrats, writers and activists would go to Chennai on August 13 to witness the unveiling of Sarvajna statue at a park outside the Kannada Sangh office at Ayanavaram in Chennai.
No sooner had the government announced its decision to unveil the statue than Kannada activists announced they would protest through a call for Bengaluru bandh on that day. “We strongly object to this,” former MLA Vatal Nagaraj announced.
While participating in the meeting, Mr Nagaraj tried to whip up emotions saying, “Unveiling of Tiruvalluvar’s statue will not allow the late Rajkumar’s atma to rest in peace.” The stand-off between the government and pro-Kannada activists could leave non-Kannadigas, particularly a large chunk of Tamil-speaking people, an anxious lot. However, police commissioner Shankar Bidari told reporters his force would maintain peace and order.