Furore In Assembly Over Telangana Thalli Statue

The Telangana Assembly today witnessed intense discussions on the unveiling of the Telangana Thalli statue, with ministers and leaders from both the ruling and opposition parties expressing their views.

Legislative Affairs Minister Sridhar Babu defended the design and unveiling of the statue, describing it as a reflection of the State's history and cultural ethos.

Responding to criticism from the BRS, most of whose members were absent in the session, he accused the party of deliberately avoiding the Assembly session to evade accountability on their decisions and actions in the previous government. "We thought they would participate in the discussions given the misgivings they seem to have on the statue, but they chose to stay away. I urge them to set aside political differences for a day and participate at least in the unveiling ceremony," he said.

Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said that the statue served as an official symbol of the State, and that no such official representation had existed until now.

He criticized the lack of initiative over the past decade to design and unveil a statue that embodied Telangana's cultural and emotional sentiments. "The new statue aligns with the State's ethos and will be installed in all government offices moving forward," Prabhakar said.

Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy praised Sonia Gandhi's role in granting Telangana statehood, saying that without Sonia Gandhi Telangana would not have been achieved "even in another lifetime". He criticized the opposition parties for politicizing the statue unveiling, and said, "On the day that we are honouring Telangana's cultural symbol, the opposition leaders are engaging in protests instead of extending their good wishes."

He also dismissed claims about the statue's design, arguing, "Does our mother need a crown or necklace to represent her? The statue is a true reflection of Telangana's spirit."

Minister Seethakka lambasted the opposition, particularly the BJP and the BRS, for using the statue unveiling for political gains.

She asked why no efforts had been made in the past decade to officially recognize Telangana Thalli. "They talk of changes to the statue, but where were they when Telangana was being reduced from TG to TS? Today, they raise objections while we work to preserve the true spirit of Telangana," she said.

Seethakka also alleged that the BRS leaders had previously installed a statue where the Telangana Thalli resembled KTR's sister. "The current statue truly represents the labour, struggle and aspirations of Telangana's people," she claimed.