Karnataka: Use of public funds for erection of religious structure planned - 25 crore for statue of goddess

Mail Today, 10 February 2011

Karnataka takes a cue from Maya’s UP

IT LOOKS like Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has inspired her Karnataka counterpart B S Yeddyurappa with regard to erecting statues! The Karnataka Chief Minister surprised everybody when he recently announced the state governments’s plan to erect a statue of Goddess Bhuvaneshwari ( Mother Karnataka). The government will set aside ` 25 crore for the project, which will start in April this year.

According to Yeddyurappa, the statue will rival the Statue of Liberty in New York or the Statue of Lord Buddha in Hyderabad.

It will be located in Bangalore at a prominent spot.

“ We want to erect a statue, which will outmatch every other statue in terms of dimensions,” he pointed out.

Though some people welcomed the announcement, most of the litterateurs of Karnataka criticised it.

“ This is not the way to promote or protect Kannada and the culture of the state. These are merely symbolic gestures to appease sections of the people.

A perfect tribute to Bhuvaneshwari is a comprehensive programme aimed at promoting the language,” a wellknown litterateur said.

It is interesting that both the chief ministers — Yeddyurappa and Mayawati are tainted by charges of corruption.