The Hindu
- Yeddyurappa promises Rs. 1 crore for the four-day celebrations
- The four-day jayanti celebrations will begin on the first day of Karaga
- Cabinet to discuss demand for renaming BIA
Bangalore, Jun 26: Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Wednesday announced that Kempe Gowda Jayanti would be celebrated as nada habba (State festival) every year and he would allocate Rs. 1 crore for it in the budget to be presented on July 17.
The State Government would shortly constitute a permanent committee to conduct the celebrations in a special way, Mr. Yeddyurappa said after inaugurating the 496th birth anniversary of Nadaprabhu Kempe Gowda organised by Bangalore Nirmapaka Kempe Gowda Kendra Samithi here. Various cultural, literary and sports events would be held as part of Kempe Gowda Jayanthi that would be celebrated for four days starting from the day of Karaga festival, he said.
Renaming of airport
Responding to the demand of samiti president B.L. Lakke Gowda that the Bengaluru International Airport at Devanahalli be named after Kempe Gowda, the Chief Minister said he would discuss the issue in the Cabinet. Some members in the audience insisted that the Chief Minister give them an assurance on the spot that the airport would be named after Kempe Gowda.
On the lines of Dasara
Earlier, the samiti requested the Chief Minister to take steps to celebrate Kempe Gwoda Jayanti as nada habba on the lines of the famous Mysore Dasra. The samiti urged Mr. Yeddyurappa to ensure that a bronze statue of Kempe Gowda was installed in front of the Vidhana Soudha and four auditoriums named after Kempe Gowda were built in the northern, eastern, western and southern parts of the city.
Sri Balagangadharanatha Swamiji of Adichunchanagiri Math, Sri Shivarudra Swamiji of Beli Math, Minister for Medical Education Ramachandra Gowda, veteran writers D. Javare Gowda and Chandrashekar Patil were present.