Thursday, May 19 2005 16:36 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Thiruvananthapuram: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh would unveil the statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and B R Ambedkar at the Assembly complex in Thiruvananthapuram in July 2005, Kerala Speaker Therambil Ramakrishnan said today (May 19, 2005).

The date of unveiling of the statues would be finalised after knowing the convenience of Prime Minister, Ramakrishnan told reporters during a press conference at the Assembly complex.

The statue of Mahatma Gandhi was in sitting posture while the statues of the other two leaders were in standing posture.

The total cost of the bronze statues was Rs.24.50 lakhs, he said. To a question, he said a 20-day long Assembly session was planned in July. However, a final decision would be taken by the Government, he said.

Ramakrishnan said that he had not received any request from Kerala Congress and Kerala Congress (B), which had parted ways from the UDF, to allot separate seats in the house.

'I can take steps in the matter only if I get a letter of request from the parties concerned", Ramakrishnan said.

To another question, Ramakrishnan said he had not received any complaint from the Congress party leadership to disqualify Congress MLAs M P Gangadharan and D Sugathan for raising corruption charges against the United Democratic Front (UDF) Government and the Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

The Speaker had no power to take suo-motu action in such cases, Ramakrishnan said.