Former minister Dr. P Shankar Rao has sought government land in the Secunderabad Cantonment area for the construction of a temple for Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
Addressing a press conference at the Congress Legislature Party here, Shankar Rao handed over to the press a copy of the letter that he wrote to the Revenue Minister seeking government land for Sonia's temple.
"I have already identified the land in Cantonment area, and have also spoken to the Revenue Divisional Officer, Secunderabad, for allotment of land for the construction of a temple for Sonia Gandhiji," he stated in his letter.
Shankar Rao said that 2 acres of land have been sought for Sonia's temple, free of cost.
However, he said that if the government is willing to sell the same, he is ready to make the payment in installments.
"I would justify the construction of a temple for Sonia Gandhiji, as she has played a very crucial role in the formation of a Telangana state and has also been patient in spite of the situation that prevailed in the Seemandhra region. Such patience is mostly found in the Almighty. That is the reason I have taken steps for the construction of her temple," Shankar Rao said.
The former minister praised Sonia Gandhi for taking a decision in favour of Telangana formation. He also condemned the desecration of statues of former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, the burning of effigies of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, and even the construction of a tomb of Sonia Gandhi in Chittoor, the native district of Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, during the protests in the Seemandhra region. However, he said that Sonia Gandhi had tolerated all such criticism with "great patience". (INN)