Veteran Communist Burgula Narsing Rao No More

Veteran Communist leader and a prominent part of the Telangana Armed Struggle, Burgula Narsing Rao, passed away today.

The 90-year-old is survived by wife Mangutha, daughter Malavika and sons Ajay and Vijay.

Rao was born to a family of freedom-fighters, including Burgula Ramakrishna Rao, who were actively involved in the Indian Independence struggle.

His growing up years played an irreducible role in shaping his politics, and his ideas on nationalism and secularism.

The killing of journalist Shoebullah Khan, however, is what led him to Marxism and communism.

Rao had served as the first president of the All-Hyderabad Students Union and of the All-India Students Federation, and had also become a major leader of the anti-Razakar and the Mulki movements.

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao expressed his grief at the veteran leader's passing, and said that the latter's role in the struggle for Telangana would never be forgotten.

"Narsing Rao will always be revered for leading several communist and progressive movements," KCR added.

CPI leader K Narayana also expressed his anguish at Rao's demise.

"Narsing Rao's death is a big loss to the party and the state. It has created a vacuum in politics," Narayana said.

"He was an inspiring student leader who went on to become a political force to be reckoned with," the CPI leader added.

Telangana ministers A Indrakaran Reddy, Koppula Eshwar and S Niranjan Reddy too expressed their condolences to the bereaved family.