BRS condemns demolition of former Narsampet MLA Peddi Sudarshan Reddy’s statue

BRS leaders have condemned the demolition of former Narsampet MLA Peddi Sudarshan Reddy’s statue, alleging it was removed overnight from private property without notice. They demanded its restoration within 24 hours and warned of serious consequences if authorities failed to act.

Hyderabad: Unidentified miscreants have demolished the statue of former Narsampet MLA Peddi Sudarshan Reddy in Narsampet of erstwhile Warangal district. Holding the Congress government responsible for it, BRS leaders strongly condemned the demolition of the statue, which was installed on private property. The party leaders alleged that the statue was removed overnight without prior notice or intimation.

Speaking to mediapersons at Telangana Bhavan here on Tuesday, former Minister Errabelli Dayakar Rao said the District Collector and Police Commissioner had been informed about the installation. He said the statue was erected with the permission of the private landowner, Vidyasagar. He questioned why the statue was demolished when the government had conducted Peddi Sudarshan Reddy’s funeral with official honours.

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He demanded that the statue be restored at the same spot, failing which he warned of serious consequences. He also said BRS leaders were heading to Narsampet and would install Peddi Sudarshan Reddy’s statues in every village if necessary. He demanded that the Narsampet Medical College be named after the former MLA.

Former MP B Vinod Kumar alleged that the demolition was carried out at the instance of Narsampet MLA Donti Madhava Reddy. He questioned the government’s objection to a statue on private land near the medical college and asked whether other statues on roads had been removed. He said authorities had cited the land being classified as assignment land, but questioned their right to demolish a statue on private property.

He said around 15,000 police personnel were deployed to arrest BRS leaders before the demolition. He urged the local Congress MLA to reconsider his stand and called upon the police to facilitate restoration of the statue within 24 hours. He warned that BRS would announce its future course if authorities failed to respond.

Former Minister Satyavathi Rathod also blamed Madhava Reddy for the demolition and alleged that Congress leaders were deriving political pleasure from the incident. She said Peddi Sudarshan Reddy’s name would remain in Telangana’s history and challenged Minister D Seethakka to a public debate on development in Mulugu.

Former MLA Gandra Venkataramana Reddy said Peddi Sudarshan Reddy had a significant public record and questioned the need to create a law-and-order issue over his statue installation. Former MLA Challa Dharma Reddy urged the government to restore it before the situation went out of control.

BRS leader Y Satish Reddy said the demolition had insulted Narsampet people and demanded immediate restoration of the statue.