Bengaluru, June 27 -- Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday marked the birth anniversary of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda by garlanding his statue and reaffirming the state government's commitment to preserving the legacy of the city's founding father. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah was also present.

Addressing the gathering, Shivakumar announced plans for a grand memorial, stating, "This is a very special occasion. We have allotted five acres through the Kempegowda Development Authority. We ourselves established this authority."

Nadaprabhu Kempegowda was a chieftain under the Vijayanagara Empire in early-modern India.

He added, "We ourselves began the celebration of the Jayanthi (birth anniversary). We are the ones who gave the l...