Unveiling of NTR statue in Parliament after 13 yrs

Unveiling of NTR’s statue in the Parliament on Tuesday became an event of conglomeration of all parties. Leaders paid rich tributes to the great leader after Speaker Meira Kumar unveiled the 9.3-feet-long bronze statue of NTR in the presence of Vice-President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, BJP parliamentary party leader Sushma Swaraj and several union ministers and leaders of various political parties.

Setting aside the differences TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and family members of NTR attended the programme.  NTR’s second wife Lakshmi Parvati too graced the occasion after receiving official invitation. Sonia Gandhi, however skipped the ceremony after Congress MPs made her a request not to attend the function. 

NTR’s sons Harikrishna, Balakrishna, Jayakrishna, grandson and actor Junior NTR were present on the occasion. Daggubati Purandheswari, daughter of NTR, who donated the statue was centre of the attraction. 

The NTR’s statue unveiling has ended 13 years of controversy since the parliamentary committee gave its not to install the statue in the year 2000 when Chandrababu Naidu was the Chief Minister. The issue sparked controversy between Chandrababu Naidu and Purandheswari, who joined in Congress in 2004. No step has been taken by Naidu to install the statue for four years. On the other, he blamed his successor Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy for delay in the unveiling of NTR’s statue.  

Speaking after the ceremony, Naidu demanded that NTR should be given Bhrata Ratna. He said his and his party’s long-pending dream has been fulfilled with the unveiling of NTR statue. He said it was his luck to work under the leadership of great NTR. Healso sought unveiling of great freedom fighter Alluri Seetaramaraju. 

Speaking on the occasion of releasing of book with photos of NTR, former MP Yelamanchili Sivaji made a shocking statement that NTR would have been chosen her daughter Purandheswari as his successor if he himself had seen her leadership qualities in politics.  

NTR, a thespian who was worshipped as god by many, had created a record by coming to power within nine months after launching TDP, ending the monopoly of Congress in state politics. He founded TDP in early 1980s on the slogan of Telugu’s self respect. 

With revolutionary pro-poor schemes like Rs.2-a-kg rice and total prohibition, he became one of the greatest leaders in Andhra Pradesh's history. NTR also played a key role in bringing together non-Congress parties at the national level to form the National Front. He married Lakshmi Parvathi in 1994. But she was never accepted as a part of the family after NTR's death in January 1996.

After a few months, his son-in-law Chandrababu unseated him from power following Lakshmi Parvathi's alleged growing interference in party affairs and administration. Though belonging to rival parties, Naidu, Purandheswari and her brothers all came together for the occasion and were seen exchanging pleasantries. 

TDP MP Harikrisna and his son Junior NTR have been staying away from party activities for the last couple of years as they are reportedly unhappy with Naidu for promoting his son N. Lokesh as his successor. Interestingly, Naidu's wife Bhuvaneswari and Lokesh did not attend the ceremony. Telugu superstar and now union tourism minister K. Chiranjeevi, actresses-turned MPs Jaya Prada and Rekha and famous Telugu actor Mohan Babu added glamour to the function.

Some Congress MPs from the state attended the ceremony but others who were not happy over the honour extended to NTR, stayed away.

Related Gallery

{joomplucat:770 limit=4|columns=4|ordering=random}

Related Video

{videoflow}3188{/videoflow}

-New Delhi, Sakshipost