Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu, a quintessential Telugu man in his attire, language and demeanour, and a nationalist by heart, said he is happy to commence his official tour of States with Telangana and its capital Hyderabad, a city of diverse languages and cultures and popular as mini-Bharat.
The Vice-President, who hails from Nellore in Andhra Pradesh, recalled that Telangana and Hyderabad was where he began his political career, gained national recognition and held key political and government posts. He said bifurcation of united Andhra Pradesh was not against any one but to enable the two Telugu States grow and develop individually.
Visibly happy with the heart-warming civic reception accorded by the State Government, reflecting the literary, cultural and traditional ethos of Telugu people, at Raj Bhavan here on Monday, the Vice-President said Telangana is known for its culture, literature and role in freedom struggle, fight against oppressive Nizam rule and Razakar movement and valiant leaders like Komaram Bhim.
Complimenting Chief Minister Chandrasekhar Rao for his impressive speech in Telugu replete with literary richness and in a language that is easily understood by common man, Mr. Naidu said it was a feast to his ears.
Emphasising the importance of mother tongue and ones culture, Mr. Naidu said Chief Ministers of both Telugu States, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu of Andhra Pradesh and Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao of Telangana should work for promoting Telugu as administrative language. Administration should be done in the language understood by people and every one should read Telugu as a subject to get State Government job. “Promoting ones own language in the administration however should not be construed as we are against other languages,” he said. He also advised both the Chief Ministers to work together to resolve issues and strengthen the States and make them prosperous. That is the way forward, he added. He said Telugu people are always in his mind and he would do his best to help the Telugu States. Reminding people’s representatives that good governance is yet to be realised even 70 years after Independence, he said each of them should introspect to achieve ‘Rama Rajya’ envisaged by Mahatma Gandhi and B.R Ambedkar.
“Rama Rajya is one that is free of corruption, discrimination to make last man in the queue also happy,” he said.
In the three-tier system, Centre, State and local bodies should work together for inclusive development and to rid country of poverty and hunger. Not only Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, every State Legislature should function in a meaningful manner, he said.
Quoting former President Pranab Mukherjee that Parliament should discuss, debate and decide, the Vice-President said Opposition should have its say while government should have its way and all should work together to meet aspirations of people irrespective of political affiliations.
