Bangalore, Aug 7 - The Karnataka High Court Friday dismissed pro-Kannada organisations' plea against unveiling of Tamil saint-poet Thiruvalluvar's statue in Bangalore and told the government to deal with any agitation with a free hand.

The organisations, however, stuck to their opposition to the unveiling of the statue Sunday and said they will go ahead with their call for a Bangalore shutdown that day.

'If the petitioner or their followers or any others attempt to hold agitation, the state has free hand to deal with the matter,' Chief Justice P.D. Dinakaran and Justice V.G. Sabhahit ruled, dismissing the petition filed by Kannada Gadi Rakshana Horata Samithi (committee to protect Karantaka interests).

'We are going ahead with the agitation and Bangalore 'bandh' (shutdown) as planned,' former legislator and Kannada Chaluvaligaru (Kannada protagonists) leader Vatal Nagaraj, one of the petitioners, told IANS.

Asked about the court directive against any agitation, he asserted that 'it has given its ruling and we will stick to our decision'.

On the possibility of violence during the agitation as Bangalore has several areas with substantial Tamil speakers, Nagaraj said: 'We have given strict instructions to our supporters that the agitation should be peaceful. I do not think there would be any violence.'

He said the shutdown would not affect milk supply nor would medical shops be forced to close for the day.

'Only other commercial establishments would be told to shut shop and auto-rickshaws and other modes of public transport would be off the road,' Nagaraj said.

The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation spokesperson said its buses would run as usual on Sunday, a holiday for government and most of the private companies.

The statue of the celebrated Tamil poet, who wrote 'Thirukkural' considered the masterpiece of Tamil literature, was installed near Halasur lake in Bangalore central business district 18 years back but could not be unveiled in the face of opposition by pro-Kannada groups.