Statues are sacrosanct. But in Telangana, some statues have become political weapons for the game of oneupmanship, with the ruling Congress and the opposition Bharatha Rastra Samithi targeting each other. The BRS strongly objects to the plan of the Revanth Reddy regime to instal Rajiv Gandhi’s statue in front of the Secretariat while relegating the Telugu Thalli statue inside the premises. Starting mildly, the issue over the statue has reached a political crescendo with CM Revanth and BRS leader K.Taraka Ramarao sticking to their guns. While the former is saying that he would not budge, the latter, with the same force, is opposing the move. The statues have triggered a political slugfest.
CM said the statue of those who looted Telangana in the guise of the movement should not be in front of the Secretariat.
Criticising BRS Working President KT Rama Rao’s comments that the BRS will remove the statue of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi now in front of the Secretariat, Chief Minister Revanth said the BRS leader’s arrogance has not declined even after losing power. Revanth said that KTR wants to install his father K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s statue in front of the Secretariat. Addressing the gathering at the Rajiv Gandhi statue in Somajiguda on Tuesday after paying floral tributes to the statue on the occasion of Rajiv Gandhi’s 80th birth anniversary, the CM said the statue of those who looted Telangana in the guise of the movement should not be in front of the Secretariat. CM said that KTR has been saying that he will remove Rajiv Gandhi’s statue if he comes to power. Touch the statue if anyone has cuts. KTR will say that he will remove Rajiv Gandhi’s statue for his father’s statue. The CM made it clear that the BRS will get power again and getting power will be a dream. KCR’s family would confine to Chintamadak village only now, he said. “KTR has been speaking about Telangana. The Thalli statue was not installed even though KTR was in power for 10 years. We will take the responsibility of installing the Telangana Talli statue on December 9 inside the Secretariat. There is no need to doubt our sincerity. Social boycott will take place if anyone speaks meaninglessly. There is no place for dacoits and boozers in front of the Secretariat,” he said.
