Mysuru: Even as the District Administration was busy in celebrating Valmiki Jayanti, over a hundred members of Karnataka Rajya Nayakara Yuva Sene staged a black-band demonstration in front of the MCC office here this morning, urging for installation of Valmiki statue at the park opposite Mini Vidhana Soudha in city.

Accusing the District Administration of ignoring numerous demands for installation of Valmiki statue, the protesters alleged that the District Administration was celebrating Valmiki Jayanti only for namesake.

Maintaining that the Nayaka community has been demanding installation of the statue for over ten years, they urged the authorities to install Valmiki statue at the earliest at the park opposite Mini Vidhana Soudha, as a honour to the great Saint. The protesters wore black-bands around their shoulder to register their protest.

Marking the Jayanti, floral tributes were offered to a portrait of Valmiki. Littérateur Dr. C.P. Krishna Kumar (CPK), Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Devegowda and disqualified Hunsur MLA A.H. Vishwanath visited the protest site to express their support.

Addressing the protesters, Dr. CPK regretted that the statue of Valmiki, the great Saint, is yet to come up in the city despite numerous representations by various associations over the years. Pointing out Valmiki is a National poet and an icon of our rich culture, he condemned the apathetic attitude of the MCC and the District Administration in the installation of the statue.

He urged the authorities to take immediate measures for the installation of Valmiki statue, which would be a befitting honour to the great Saint. Nayakara Yuva Sene office-bearers Devaraj T. Katur, Dyavappa Nayaka and others were present.