Unveiling of statues not a bargain on disputes: Karuna

Chennai, Aug 10 (PTI) Asserting that unveiling of statues
of two savants by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu was not a "bargain"
to solve water disputes between the two states, Chief Minister
M Karunanidhi on Monday said it was aimed at good "permanent"
mutual relations.

"The statues' unveiling is not being done as a bargain to
solve the water disputes but aimed at good permanent mutual
relations. It is being done only with the intention of
ensuring friendly relations," Karunanidhi told reporters on
his return here from Bangalore where he unveiled the statue of
Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar on Sunday.

In what is seen as statue diplomacy, the Thiruvalluvar
statue was unveiled after an 18-year wait due to opposition
from Kannada outfits. A statue of Kannada poet Sarvajna will
be unveiled by Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa here
on August 13.

On whether his bete noire and opposition leader
Jayalalithaa would be invited for the August 13 programme,
Karunanidhi said his government would do so.

Replying to a question on the Hogennakkal scheme to
provide drinking water to Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts
using Cauvery water, to which Karnataka is opposed,
Karunanidhi hoped that the issue would be resolved "amicably".

Asked whether he was "hopeful" of ending the deadlock,
Karunanidhi said "we have to travel towards hope... things
will end amicably," but did not elaborate.

Informing that the venue for the unveiling ceremony of
Sarvajna statue at Ayanavaram here has been shifted to a
nearby location for want of space, Karunanidhi said, "The
statue would be located at the same place where it is being
readied but only the stage would be erected at a nearby
playground.

The CM further added that he had visited the site (where
the statue has been erected) on Monday morning and found that
it could not accommodate the huge crowd that was expected to
gather during the unveiling ceremony. PTI SA
SDE