From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bangalore, Oct 1: Even as the Siddaramaiah ministry is all set to unveil an unusual 27 ft tall bronze statue of the father of nation, Mahatma Gandhi, in the park between the Vidhana Soudha and Vikasa Soudha on the Gandhi Jayanti Day on Thursday, several Kannada organisations have alleged violation of protocol over the invitation for the function.

A delegation of leaders of Kannada organisations led by Kannada Vatal Paksha leader and former MLA Vatal Nagaraj called on Legislative Council Chairman D H Shankaramurthy, who is heading a committee of the State legislature on installation of the statue, and alleged protocol violation in the invitation.

As per the protocol, Nagaraj said names of local MLA and Minister for Publicity Department and Infrastructure Roshan Baig and Bangalore Mayor N Shanthakumari should have been included in the invitation. But their names have been left out, he said.

Nagaraj demanded postponement of the event on account of the lapses and violation of the protocol norms.

Freedom fighters, corporators, leaders of the Opposition in the Legislative Council and Assembly and writers have not been invited to the function, which was gross violation of the norms, he alleged.

However, Council Chairman Shankaramurthy clarified that there was no violation of protocol norms and the panel taken decisions regarding dignitaries to be present at the function.

He said former Chief Ministers S M Krishna, B S Yeddyurappa, Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar and MLAs and MLCs have been invited.

Since the legislature complex comes under the jurisdiction of the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, the panel decided to invite Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to unveil the statue.

Shankaramurthy would preside over the function and Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmppa would be the chief guest.
Siddaramaiah would unveil the statue which was installed at a cost of Rs 12 crore. He had laid the foundation stone for the statue on July 6, 2014.

The bronze statue was designed and chiseled by renowned sculptor and Padmashree awardee Ram V Sutar.

The statue has a 13-feet pedestal and is facing the High Court of Karnataka.

The idea of installing the statue was mooted by former Council Chairman V R Sudarshan and Congress leader in 2011.