TRS wants replacement of Andhra leaders statues with TS stalwarts

Leaders say the culture, dialect and traditions of Telangana were insulted by Andhra rulers

In a resolution that has the potential to snowball into a major controversy, leaders of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) on Friday suggested that the government replace statues of Andhra leaders and rename the institutions and installations named after them with the stalwarts of Telangana.

The resolution adopted in the name of Telangana cultural renaissance sought to know whether it was necessary to have the statues and names of Andhra leaders who had “bayed for the blood of those who raised a voice for Telangana and who suppressed the demand for separate statehood”.

Proposing the resolution, former MLC N. Laxman Rao felt that continuing with the statues and names of Andhra leaders would amount to disregarding the stalwarts of Telangana. Breaking the silence maintained by the ruling party leaders on making controversial statements, the resolution adopted at the plenary recollected how the culture, dialect and traditions of Telangana were insulted by Andhra rulers.

It proposed the construction of multi-purpose cultural centres in all district headquarters and town halls in all division centres along with developing libraries to popularise Telangana literature.

Party president K. Chandrasekhar Rao, however, did not make any comments on the resolution seconded by Ranga Reddy district president of the party, Nagender Goud. Names of KBR Park, NTR Park and Telugu University were mentioned in the resolution.

Reiterating the importance being given to the development of Hyderabad city, particularly ahead of elections to GHMC, the TRS plenary wanted the government to transform it into a global metropolis. Modernisation of police, reviving Musi river, cleansing Hussainsagar lake, improving transportation with metro rail, construction of satellite cities and others were suggested.

Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao, in his comments, said the municipalities in Telangana were reduced to garbage yards due to their continuous neglect by the previous regimes.

“Hussainsagar used to make up for the lack a sea but the Andhra rulers have made it a drainage pond. The government is committed to restoring its past glory,” he assured.

On the resolution on increasing green cover in the State to one-third of the geography with ‘Haritha Haaram’, the Chief Minister said the plan was to take up 230 crore plantation in the next three years. .

In all, 12 resolutions were adopted.