Revanth Reddy Defends Rajiv Gandhi Statue In Front Of Secretariat

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy today defended the Congress' decision to install former prime minister late Rajiv Gandhi's statue in front of the Telangana Secretariat, and said that there was no question of going back on the decision despite a few people being opposed to the installation of the statue, which he said was due to their own vested interests.

He also warned of dire consequences if anyone defiled or damaged Gandhi's statue.

Speaking at a meeting organised to mark Gandhi's birth anniversary at the Somajiguda circle, the CM said that the installation of Gandhi's statue next to Telangana Martyrs' Memorial would be inspirational to the next generation.

"Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was an inspiration. He introduced technology to the country in the 1980s. With the inspiration of Mahatma Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi strengthened the Panchayati Raj system through Constitutional amendments. He brought many reforms for women to excel in politics. We will install a statue of Rajiv Gandhi, who sacrificed his life for the country, in front of the Secretariat at any cost," Reddy said.

Coming down heavily on BRS leaders for threatening to remove the statue of Gandhi if their party was voted to power in the next Assembly election, the Chief Minister said that the BRS leaders would be slapped with chappals and thrashed.

He pointed out that the people of Telangana had already taught a lesson to the BRS by defeating it in both the Assembly and the Lok Sabha elections. "Former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao and his son K T Rama Rao are not learning any lessons," he said.

In a veiled attack on BRS working president K T Rama Rao, the CM said that the former was planning to install the statue of his father and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, but that thieves and drunkards had no place in front of the Secretariat.