The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Mahanadu has adopted an unanimous resolution to urge the Centre to confer Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of the country, on the party founder and former Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao.
The resolution was passed on the second day of TDP’s annual convention, marking the birth anniversary of N.T. Rama Rao at Gandipet here on Thursday. After several senior leaders including NTR’s film actor son and Hindupur MLA Balakrishna, Union Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Mothkupalli Narasimhulu paid rich tributes to the NTR with a vow of ushering in a pro-poor governance, political and social empowerment of Dalits and BCs, party president and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu moved the resolution seeking Bharat Ratna for NTR in recognition of his multi-faceted personality and moves to redefine politics in the united AP.
After endearing himself as an actor, who had played many memorable social and mythological roles, NTR did not confine his political role to the then combined AP, but made an impact on the national politics which led to formation of the National Front, the United Front and then NDA.
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Announcing various decisions as a mark of respect to the late TDP founder, Mr. Naidu said that his government had decided to revive NTR’s pet schemes including Janata Dhoti and Sari to provide work to handloom weavers and give new clothes to the poor. The scheme likely to be implemented from Dasara would benefit 1.29 crore Below Poverty Line (BPL) families and it would cost the exchequer Rs.400 crore.
A statue of NTR in the attire of Lord Krishna would be installed at the Pushkara Ghat on the Godavari banks . A land mark or a programme would also be planned in the new capital Amaravathi in memory of NTR, he said.
Noting that NTR was the brain behind the food security programme (Rs.2 a kg rice scheme) in 1982, Mr. Naidu credited the party founder with several pro-poor schemes such as subsidised power, doing away with patel and patwari system and bringing in mandal setup, administrative reforms and initiating the Telugu Ganga project and fighting for AP’s rights on Krishna surplus waters.
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Janata Dhoti and Saree scheme envisaging job for weavers is likely to be implemented from Dasara