TDP demands Bharat Ratna for NTR

Telugu Desam Party president and Chief Minister-designate N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday reiterated the demand for conferring Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award, posthumously for party founder late NT Rama Rao.

Addressing the party's Mahanadu at Gandipet here, Naidu said that the successive governments at the Centre have ignored the Tdp's demand for Bharat Ratna for NTR. However, he said that he would make fresh representations with the present BJP Government in this regard. A unanimous resolution was also adopted in Mahanadu seeking Bharat Ratna for late NTR. Naidu also announced that he would strive hard to rename the Shamshabad Airport after late NTR.

During his speech, Naidu claimed that it was the Tdp Government that brought Hyderabad on the global map. He said he took the initiatives like international airport, Outer Ring Road, Hitech City and other projects which brought immense development in Hyderabad. Without naming TRS Chief K Chandrasekhar Rao, he advised the Chief Minister-designate to refrain from making provocative statements. He said that the development process initiated by the Tdp Government should be carried forward.

The Tdp Chief assured that the Tdp would fulfill all the poll promises in the Seemandhra region while it would keep a strict vigil on the implementation of poll promises by the TRS Government in Telangana. He said that the Tdp was in favour of comprehensive development of Telugu speaking people across the globe.

Naidu also welcomed the setting up of SIT by the Centre to bring back black money.

The Mahanadu was also addressed by several senior Tdp leaders including Naidu's son Lokesh.

Earlier, rich tributes were paid to late NTR on his birth anniversary. Family members and other Tdp leaders paid floral tributes at NTR Ghat and recalled the services rendered by NTR to the people.