Ranga Rao loved Gudavalli, says Rosaiah

The affection former Deputy Chief Minister Koneru Ranga Rao showed for his native village, Gudavalli, was exemplary, Chief Minister K. Rosaiah said on Sunday.

Rajya Sabha member V. Hanumantha Rao shares a word with Chief Minister K. Rosaiah at the condolence meeting of former Deputy Chief Minister Koneru Ranga Rao, at Gudavalli in Krishna district on Sunday. Photo: Raju V.

Addressing a meeting held to commemorate Ranga Rao at the village near here, Mr. Rosaiah said that he knew several political leaders who had completely forgot the villages they hailed from after becoming successful. Ranga Rao was different, because he came back to his village even if he could find a single day to spend time with his people. The commitment Ranga Rao had for his village was evident in the interest he took in it and the huge church he constructed in the village, Mr. Rosaiah said.

Several senior leaders from the party and heavyweights of the Madiga community attended the meeting held in the fields adjacent to the church constructed by Ranga Rao in Gudavalli.

Union Minister of State for Railways K.H. Muniyappa, former Chief Minister Nedurumalli Janardhana Reddy, MRPS chief Manda Krishna Madiga, TDP MLC Nannapaneni Rajakumari, CPI MLC Jelli Wilson, AICC office bearers, Congress MPs ministers and former ministers attended the meeting.

While several speakers said that the implementation of the recommendations made by the Cabinet sub-committee on land reforms headed by Koneru Ranga Rao would be a fitting tribute to the former Deputy Chief Minister, senior Congress leader and MP V. Hanumantha Rao suggested renaming of Krishna district after Ranga Rao. When the name of former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy could be given to Kadapa, there should be no objection to Ranga Rao's name being given to Krishna, he reasoned.

Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal said that a fitting memorial should be built for the former Deputy Chief Minister in Vijayawada. AICC secretary and MLC Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy said that a good developmental scheme should be named after Ranga Rao.

Mr. Jannardhana Reddy said the report on land reforms submitted by Ranga Rao to the Rajasekhara Reddy government was considered one of the best reports on land reforms in the country.

Former MP and Ranga Rao's son-in-law Mallu Ravi said that leaders cutting across party lines were asking for the implementation of the Ranga Rao committee's recommendations.

AICC secretary Jayakumar, Minister for Animal Husbandry K. Parthasarathy, former ministers Murugudu Hanumatha Rao and Pinnamaneni Venkateswara Rao were among the lucky few who got a chance to speak.

Minister for Secondary Education Dokka Manikya Varaprasad, former minister Mandali Buddha Prasad, Devineni Rajasekhar were not so lucky despite being early birds to the meeting.