Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Aug 6: The pro-Kannada organizations that are fighting tooth and nail, the plans of the state government to install the statue of the legendary Tamil poet Tiruvalluvar in the city, have been making last-ditch efforts to stop the government from going ahead with this plan. These organizations, which had earlier threatened to call for a statewide bandh against the proposal, have now approached the High Court to stay the installation. They have also asked the Chief Electoral Officer of the state, arguing that the installation of the statue amounts to violation of the election code of conduct.

Through a petition moved in the state High Court, leader of Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha, Vatal Nagaraj, has contended that it is mandatory to obtain permission from the concerned, before a statue is unveiled, as per Karnataka Playground Preservation Act and Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act. As no permission either from Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike or any of the departments has been obtained for the installation of Tiruvalluvar's statue, the government's move in this direction is illegal. Hence, the installation of the statue has to be stayed, he has prayed.

The leaders of pro-Kannada organizations, who participated in a meeting held in the legislators' hostel premises earlier in the day on Wednesday, decided not to allow the statue to be unveiled in the city and to continue to strongly agitate against this move, even at the risk of being jailed. They noted that the government wants to unveil the statue in the city on August 9 in the presence of lacs of people and warned that they have given a call for a statewide bandh that day and that buses and auto rickshaws would not be allowed to move about. "For me, this is a holy war against the wrongs. Yeddyurappa is the leader of Tamilians. I am the leader of Kannadigas. Let us see who wins," challenged Vatal Nagaraj.