A 108-ft statue of social reformer Basaveshwara built at Basavakalyan in Bidar district at a cost of over Rs. 9 crore by Mate Mahadevi of the Basava Dharma Peetha will be unveiled by Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters, Minister for Housing V. Somanna, who will inaugurate the two-day function on Saturday, said that the statue, the tallest in a sitting posture in the country, has been built in cement concrete by Keshava Murthy from Shimoga.
Mr. Somanna said that the peetha had not taken any grants from the government for the statue.
Basaveshwara, who came to Basavakalyan, made it his “Karmabhoomi” and launched the Kayaka movement against social evils such as caste system.
‘Kayaka Yogi’ houses
Mr. Somanna, who is the chairman of the Statue Installation Reception Committee, said that “Kayaka Yogi” houses had been built at Basavakalyan to mark the occasion.
Union Ministers M. Mallikarjun Kharge, K.H. Muniyappa, the former Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president G. Parameshwara are participating in the function, he said.
Meeting
Mr. Somanna, who is in-charge Minister of Chamarajanagar district, said that the ninth Karnataka Development Project meeting would be held there shortly and several development works would be announced.
He said that a proposal to create the Male Mahadeshwara Hills Development Authority would be discussed at the next Cabinet meeting.
