Won’t keep mum if Rajiv statue installed before State Secretariat, warns KTR

Hyderabad: BRS party working president KTR on Monday said his party would not keep mum if former PM Rajiv Gandhi’s statue was installed before the State secretariat by the State government. He said the decision of the State government was nothing but an attack on Telangana's self-respect.

Speaking to media persons after participating in the Rakhi celebrations at Telangana Bhavan in the city, KTR criticised the decision of the Congress government. “In politics, power and positions are not permanent. If KCR built the secretariat to show the self-respect of the State, why is the Congress government installing the statue of Rajiv Gandhi,” he asked. He alleged that the Congress party was trying to hurt the self-respect of the people of Telangana. "Rajiv Gandhi's statue is being placed where the statue of Telangana Thalli is supposed to be placed. What is the connection between Rajiv Gandhi and Telangana? Will you put up a statue of a leader, who had taken hundreds of lives,” he asked.

KTR said it was outrageous that the statue of Rajiv Gandhi had been installed at the place where the statue of Telangana's Thalli was supposed to be placed. “Even if the statue is installed now, as soon as the BRS returns to power, it will be removed and the statue of the Mother of Telangana will be installed,” he warned. KTR also threatened to change the names of other establishments in the State, including the Ring Road and Hyderabad airport, which are named after Rajiv Gandhi.

He said there were many names in Hyderabad with the names of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi in Telangana. “If the Congress government does not change its attitude now, we will change all the names after returning to power,” he warned. He also demanded that the Congress change its mind and install the statue of Telangana Thalli in front of the Secretariat. He asked CM Revanth Reddy to keep the statue of Rajiv Gandhi at either Gandhi Bhavan or at his residence in Jubilee Hills.