Bangalore: On Sunday the statue of Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar will be unveiled in Bangalore after 18 long years. The tension between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka saw to it that the statue remained shrouded all these years. And even now there is objection to the unveiling from some Kannada groups.
And, members of Kannada organisations are getting their message across loud and clear. According to them the statue of Thiruvalluvar should not be unveiled this weekend. There is still too much unfinished business between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Says Praveen Shetty, Kannada Rakshana Vedike: "Tamil Nadu should take back their objection to Kannada being given classical status. The Hogenakkal project is coming up on Karnataka's territory. After the Cauvery issue is also sorted out -- only then will we allow the statue to be unveiled. We are ready to die, to be beaten by lathis, to be shot."
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa is determined that the function goes ahead smoothly and he hoped to meet with the objecting groups to try and work things out. But they boycotted the meeting.
"As you know I requested them. As chief minister of Karnataka I am trying level best up to last minute. Even now I request all the Kannada protestors to attend this meeting and support," the Chief Minister says.
The Chief Minister had called those objecting to the unveiling of the Thiruvalluvar statue to his home office. They did not come. Sunday could be a day of showdown in Bangalore -- although the state administration is determined that the statue does finally get to see the light of day in a peaceful way.