Tuesday, May 07, 2013

Hyderabad: Statue of NT Rama Rao, one of the greatest actors of Indian cinema and the founder of the regional Telugu Desam party, was unveiled in Parliament in New Delhi at a grand ceremony on Tuesday.

But a political row cast its shadow on the occasion as Congress party president Sonia Gandhi stayed away from the ceremony, bowing to the pressure of Congress leaders of Andhra Pradesh.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and vice-president Hamid Ansari were among the host of political dignitaries present when Speaker Miera Kumar unveiled the statue. Union minister S Jaipal Reddy, BJP leader Arun Jaitely regional leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Farooq Abdullah also attended the function.

Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu, NTR’s daughter and union minister of state D Purandeswari and NTR’s two sons, including film star Balakrishna, NTR’s second wife Lakshmi Parvathy were among the notable members of NTR clan present on the occasion.

Speaking to the media after the ceremony Naidu said that his long-cherished dream was fulfilled today. “NTR was a historic person who gave a political alternative to the nation,” he said and demanded that Bharat Ratna, the greatest civilian award should be bestowed upon him. Similarly he also demanded the installation of the statue of renowned freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju in Parliament. Sitarama Raju had waged an armed struggle against the British in coastal Andhra region.

Naidu said that it was his good fortune that he got an opportunity to work under NTR. “He was the person who gave hope to the poor through his welfare schemes like cheap rice,” he said.

“Telugu people can never forget and never repay the debt of NTR,” Naidu said.

NTR’s son Balakrishna said that it was a day of celebrations for Telugu people because NTR had always fought for the self respect of Telugus. “He gave an identity to Telugu people. Earlier nobody knew Telugu identity,” he said. On the political front, he said, NTR was the only leader who made a regional political party a national force. “He brought together several regional parties to mould them in to an alternative,” he said.

While NTR’s daughter and a minister in Congress government D Purandeswari tried to take the credit for the installation of the statue, Balakrishna said that it was Telugu Desam party who fought for several years to realize this dream.

By Omer Farooq Correspondent

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