NTR Statue Issue: TDP MPs Lodge Protest

Denial of invitation to the unveiling of Telugu Desam Party founder N T Rama Rao's statue in the Parliament premises has triggered strong protests both from the TDP and NTR's widow Lakshmi Parvathi.

The bronze statue of NTR will be unveiled in the Parliament premises by Parliament Speaker Meira Kumar, on May 7, at 10:30am. However, sources say that official invitations were sent only to the Nandamuri family members, although Union minister D Purandeswari personally invited TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu for the event.

Angered over the non-receipt of official invitations, TDP MPs, led by Nama Nageswara Rao, will be meeting the Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar at 11:30am on Monday, to lodge an official protest. They will request the Speaker that an official invitation be sent to the party founded by NTR himself.

Meanwhile, talking to reporters in Hyderabad, NTR's widow Lakshmi Parvathi registered her displeasure at not being invited to the event. She said that she was part of the Nandamuri family, and that she could not be ignored. She blamed Purandeswari for the same.

The 9-feet-3-inches-long statue, weighing 900 kilograms, was made at Vemuru village in Guntur district, and it has already reached the Parliament building. The statue-unveiling event is likely to be attended by Balakrishna, Junior NTR, Mohan Babu, Nagarjuna and the members of the Nandamuri family. (INN)