Naidu Demands Bharat Ratna For NTR

The 88th birth anniversary of the late Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR), the actor and politician who was regarded as the face of Andhra Pradesh, was celebrated with much gusto on Saturday.

The star's family members, including sons Harikrishna, Balakrishna and Ramakrishna, daughter Bhuvaneshwari and grandson Jr. NTR, paid floral tributes to him at the NTR Ghat. Sr. NTR's political successor and son-in-law N Chandrababu Naidu waxed eloquent about the actor at the Mahanadu in Gandipet.

Naidu, Balakrishna and Harikrishna cut a cake on the Mahanadu stage in celebration of NTR's 88th birthday, after which Naidu demanded that the Bharat Ratna be conferred upon Sr. NTR in recognition of his service to the people of the state.

Naidu also demanded that a statue of the actor be installed in the Parliament.

Balakrishna then addressed the gathering and reminded them that it was his father who had first introduced the concept of reservation for women in the state.

In Vijayawada, the fans of the yesteryear cine idol are celebrating his birth anniversary with a bang, with the TDP members who were not participating in the Mahanadu overseeing the proceedings.

NTR had carved a niche for himself in the hearts of the Telugu people by starring in 320 widely-appreciated films. He later entered the arena of politics by founding the Telugu Desam Party in 1982, and served as the CM thrice. He is hailed as the advocate of the culture of the Telugus.