Telugu Desam Party Vijayawada (East) MLA Gadde Ramamohan on Monday said the statue of Jai Andhra movement leader Kakani Venkata Ratnam will be reinstalled at the same place once the works of the flyover, coming up across Benz Circle, were completed.
Speaking to the media persons here on Monday, the legislator said that the statue of the Jai andhra movement icon was removed owing to technical reasons and the long-cherished dream of the denizens of Vijayawada having a crucial flyover is being realised owing to the steps taken to the present government.
“We brought the removal of the statue issue, well in advance, to the notice of Ms. Chennupati Vidya, former Parliamentarian and the member of the statue committee, and to the grandson of Mr. Venkata Ratnam. Both of them agreed for the removal but sought my assurance for the reinstallation after the completion of the flyover.”
Mr Ramamohan said it was the State government and the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC), which was maintaining the island in an aesthetic manner by nurturing the greenery and water sprinklers for several years.
He said it was sad the both the YSR Congress Party and the Congress were making an issue out of an non-issue just to score political brownie points.
“Political personalities like Kakani Venkata Ratnam, N.T. Rama Rao and Puchalapalli Sundaraiah need not be looked at politically for their deeds and acts were for the welfare of the entire society.”
He said the State government did not show any disrespect to the great leader but the removal was taken up considering the welfare of the society.
‘Shabby treatment’
Meanwhile, city Congress chief Akula Srinivas flayed the mid-night act of the authorities in the removal of the statue.
“Mr. Kakani Venkata Ratnam is a Congressman and we object to the shabby treatment to our legendary leader,” he added.
He said the Telugu Desam government was systematically removing statues of great personalties and places of worships in the name of development across the State.
Congress leaders Konalakonda Sivaji, Naraharasetty Narasimha Rao and others took part in the meeting.
