Click to play videoBangalore: Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are at loggerheads again. This time over two statues. Kannada groups won't let their Chief Minister unveil a statue of a Tamil philosopher in Bangalore next month, unless their Tamil neighbours reciprocates.
The unveiling of the statue of the renowned Tamil writer Tiruvalluvar in Bangalore has been held up since 1991. Differences between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over several issues from water to classical language status for Kannada have often come in the way. The statue has also needed police protection whenever a border dispute crops up. This time, it's the cause of another dispute between the two neighbours. Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa's sudden announcement two weeks back that the statue will be unveiled on August 9 has raised the hackles of Kannada groups. They are not appeased by the fact that Tamil Nadu will return the honour by unveiling the statue of famed Kannada poet Sarvajna in Chennai on August 13.
Karnataka Rakshana Vedike president T A Narayana Gowda said, “If they take a unilateral decision, we'll not allow them to unveil it on August 9 by calling a Bangalore bandh. After that, if anything untoward happens, both governments are to be blamed.
Kannada Groups demand that Sarvajna's statue must be installed in a prominent place in Chennai, Tamil Nadu must withdraw court cases that are hampering Centre's grant of the 'classical language' status to Kannada and Tamil Nadu must stop its water projects at Hogenakkal until a joint survey can be taken up.
It's not just Tiruvalluvar's statue that's been under wraps, Sarvajna's statue too has been lying unattended for a long time at a garage in a government complex.
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