Karunanidhi said: 'The unveiling of statues is not part of any bargain but an outcome of a friendly gesture.'

Karunanidhi said the Tamil Nadu government has been providing financial assistance to Kannada schools here and treats all the southern languages on equal footing.

'The vow that has to be taken now is both states would work together and see that their respective rights are secured.'

Referring to the large number of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and DMK party flags fluttering side by side on the roads en route to the function venue, Karunanidhi on the lighter vein said: 'I wondered whether there has been any change in the (political) alliance.'

His party DMK is in alliance with the Congress.

The function was attended by ministers, members of parliament and officials from both states.

Tamil movie stars Rajnikanth, Kamal Hassan, Prakash Raj, Saroja Devi and Manorama were present at the function.