Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy dismissed the call given by some political parties to boycott the ensuing 4th World Telugu Conference in Tirupati and said that it is up to them to decide how to react to the prestigious event.
Though as a reply to a media query, his comment came in a veiled reference to the critical observations by the TDP and YSR Congress on the sloppy arrangements and the political overtones to the literary event.
The Chief Minister, however, gave an open call to all litterateurs, scholars and politicians to take part whole-heartedly in the event, irrespective of their party affiliations.
He also exuded confidence that the event would become a hit with the support of all stakeholders and language lovers.
Expresses satisfaction
During his inspection of the venue, ahead of the arrival of President Pranab Mukherjee in a couple of days to inaugurate the grand event, Mr. Reddy expressed satisfaction over the arrangements, especially at the late hour, the main dais and the other stages.
Accompanied by Ministers V.Vasantha Kumar (Cultural Affairs), G. Arunakumari (Mines and Geology), K. Parthasarathy (Intermediate education), he had a look at the stage backdrop getting ready for the main dais where the President would formally declare the three-day event open.
He also watched with amusement the ‘Akshara Kalpavriksham’ (Eternal tree of knowledge), an artificially made art piece at the venue, with Telugu alphabets hanging from it as fruits.
He released a booklet brought out by the Police Department on the security plan, which, rather interestingly, was titled in chaste Telugu as ‘Bhadratha Pranalika’.
TTD Chairman K. Bapi Raju, Executive Officer L.V.Subrahmanyam, Collector Solomon Arokiaraj, Deputy Inspector General of Police Charu Sinha, SP (Tirupati Urban) S.V. Rajasekhar Babu and Culture Secretary R.Kavitha Prasad were present.
