KTR's "Clay Statues" remarks trigger protest by SA MLAs

Telangana Rashtra Samithi MLA K Taraka Rama Rao on Tuesday condemned the Seemandhra leaders for remaining inert to the suicide of hundreds of youth for the cause of Telangana State.

Participating in the debate on State Reorganisation Bill in the State Legislative Assembly, KTR alleged that the Seemandhra did not even express sorrow over the spate of suicide of Telangana students and youth while they made lot of hue and cry over the damage caused to the "Clay Statues" of Telugu personalities.

These remarks triggered strong protest from the Seemandhra legislators. TDP member Dhulipala Narender sought an unconditional apology from KTR for his remarks. He said that TRS founder K Chandrasekhar Rao, who was then with the TDP under NTR's regime, was part of the committee which supervised the installation of statues at Tank Bund. Reacting to the demand, KTR said that he need not learn from the TDP leaders who back-stabbed the party founder NT Rama Rao for power and threw slippers at him.

Intervening on the issue, Government Chief Whip Gandra Venkataramana Reddy pointed out that the statues of Congress leaders including former Prime Ministers Pandit Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were demolished by the agitators in Seemandhra during Samaikhyandhra agitaiton. However, the Seemandhra leaders did not condemn such actions, he said.

Several Seemandhra MLAs trooped into the well demanding KTR's apology for his remarks. Having failed to convince the legislators to resume their seats, Deputy Speaker Mallu Batti Vikramarka adjourned the House for 10 minutes. The TDP MLAs continued their protest even after the House reassembled. They resumed their after Speaker Nadendla Manohar assured to allow them to express their protest.

TDP MLA Errabelli Dayakar Rao alleged that KCR played a major role in toppling the NTR's Government. In fact, he said it was KCR who provoked the TDP legislators to revolt against NTR.

During his speech, KTR said that Telangana State was demanded not for power, but to restore the self-respect of people of this region. He said that Hyderabad should be the common capital for not more than three years and it there should be no 'Governor Raj' in the State. He assured that Seemandhra people that their lives and properties would be secured in the State of Telangana.

KTR attributed the Telangana formation to the hunger strike launched by KCR in 2009 and the sacrifices given by youth and students.

He appreciated MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi for supporting the Telangana Bill.