Congress abandons Telangana Thalli statue after Global Summit, draws flak

A Telangana Thalli statue installed at the Global Summit venue in Future City was found abandoned after the event, triggering criticism against the Congress government. The incident has sparked political backlash, with the BRS accusing the government of neglect and wasteful spending

Hyderabad: Days after the much-hyped Global Summit at Future City concluded, what is being seen as the Congress government’s scant regard for Telangana Thalli came to the fore, with the Congress’ own version of the statue found toppled and lying on the ground at the summit venue.

Amid the dismantling of temporary tents erected at Meerkhanpet in Future City, the venue of the Global Summit, the Telangana Thalli statue was found abandoned and unattended. Images of the statue lying on the ground have gone viral on social media, triggering sharp criticism and raising questions over the Congress government’s commitment to and respect for Telangana Thalli.

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Significantly, the incident comes days after Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s birthday on December 9, when Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had virtually unveiled Telangana Thalli statues at all district collectorates. A towering Telangana Thalli statue was also installed at the Global Summit venue as part of the high-profile event.

However, with the summit over, the makeshift structures erected by spending huge amounts of public money, rumoured to be in the league of around Rs.100 crore, are now being dismantled. In the process, the Telangana Thalli statue was left behind at the venue, lying on the ground, drawing criticism from various sections.

The State government’s handling of the statue has triggered a backlash, with social media users accusing the Congress of symbolic posturing and neglect once the event concluded.

The main opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) also came down heavily on the Congress government, accusing it of misplaced priorities and wasting public funds.

“Rs.100 crore of Telangana money wasted. After removing the Rs.100 crore temporary setup at Future City, Congress Thalli has been abandoned. Why did the Congress not save Rs.100 crore to conduct a two-day summit at HITEX instead of these temporary tents?” BRS spokesperson Manne Krishank asked on X.