Civil society bodies, freedom fighters, and well known writer Volga were among those who condemned the desecration of statues of eminent Telugu personalities and the attack on media during the ‘Million March' on Tank Bund.
Describing the action as reprehensible, the Human Rights Forum said the wanton destruction of collective cultural heritage was an uncivilised act and the attack on media “most undemocratic”. The forum also criticised the government for virtually unleashing a ‘police raj' in Hyderabad and other Telangana districts.
Ms. Volga and social activists Vasanth Kannabiran and Kalpana Kannabiran said the destruction of statues signalled the growth of cultural intolerance and hatred. They said to assume that a democratic Telangana independent of history was unrealistic.
“It cannot be isolated from the history and culture of the nation or the literature and culture of Telugu language.” The responsibility for the destruction primarily lay with the government.
President of Telangana Swatantra Senani Samithi Babu Rao Varma while condemning the vandalism, said that such actions would harm the cause for which the march was undertaken.
He said the police should have taken precautionary measures to safeguard the statues.
Telangana Samnvaya Samithi's chairman A. Gopala Kishan and secretary, G. Srinivasulu also condemned the vandalism. They decried the attack on Congress leaders K. Keshava Rao and Madhu Yashki and faulted the government for deploying massive security force to thwart the legitimate aspirations of the people.
Lok Satta working president D.V.V.S. Varma, demanded the organisers of the ‘Million March' to take responsibility for the incidents and take the initiative for re-installation of the demolished statues. The Journalists Association of Andhra Pradesh (JAAP) demanded compensation for the damage caused to media cameras and sought free medical treatment for those injured in the incidents. They urged police to identify those responsible for the attack and take stern action against them. Literary organisation Sahitisravanthi described the desecration of statues as an attack on heritage. State organising committee of the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) and All India NTR Fans Associations Federation also condemned the incidents.
