KTR warns against changes to Telangana Thalli statue design

He warned Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy against making any changes in the design, which holds sentimental and historic value for the people of Telangana.

Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao has strongly opposed any attempt to alter the design of the Telangana Thalli statue, proposed to be installed in the State Secretariat on December 9. He warned Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy against making any changes in the design, which holds sentimental and historic value for the people of Telangana.

Speaking after inaugurating a book exhibition as part of the Deeksha Diwas celebrations at Telangana Bhavan on Wednesday, Rama Rao pointed out that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, despite leading the BJP to power, did not alter the design of Bharat Matha unveiled by Indira Gandhi. Similarly, designs of Telugu Thalli and Kannada Matha have remained unchanged irrespective of change in political leadership.

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“I urge Chief Minister Revanth Reddy not to change the Telangana Thalli design due to his animosity towards former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao or attempts to erase his legacy. History and the people of Telangana will not forgive such a mistake,” he warned. He vowed that if the BRS returns to power in four years, they would restore Telangana Thalli’s statue to its rightful place, replacing the statue of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, opposite Dr BR Ambedkar Telangana State Secretariat.

The BRS working president emphasised the importance of preserving Telangana’s culture and history through literature, arts, and songs. Announcing plans to host an annual 11-day literary and cultural festival from November 29 to December 9 from next year, he revealed that two committees – comprising writers, experts, historians, poets, singers and artistes – will be constituted to organise the event on behalf of the BRS. Apart from Hyderabad, the festival will also take place in headquarters of erstwhile districts including Warangal, Karimnagar, and Nalgonda among others.

He urged writers and poets to document Telangana’s history and the statehood movement for future generations. “If lions do not document their legacy, hunters’ stories will become history,” he remarked, stressing the urgency of preserving Telangana’s narrative and educate future generations.

Explaining efforts of the BRS giving priority to Telangana’s identity rather than political leadership, he said during its decade-long rule, festivals like Bathukamma and Bonalu were celebrated officially. Irrigation projects were named after local deities instead of political leaders, reflecting the party’s commitment to honouring Telangana’s heritage, he added.