Telangana CM to unveil Rajiv Gandhi’s statue today

The unveiling ceremony is scheduled for Monday, September 16, 2024, at the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Telangana State Secretariat.All Ministers and senior party functionaries are expected to participate in the event.

Image credit:- thehindu

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is set to unveil a statue of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on Monday, September 16, 2024, at the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Telangana State Secretariat. This event will take place in the late afternoon and is expected to see participation from all Ministers and senior party functionaries.

Originally, the unveiling was planned for August 20, 2024, coinciding with Rajiv Gandhi's 80th birth anniversary. However, it was postponed due to scheduling conflicts involving senior Congress leaders, including AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi, who were initially expected to attend.

The decision to install Rajiv Gandhi's statue has sparked significant political controversy, particularly with the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). BRS leaders have expressed strong objections, claiming that the location designated for Gandhi's statue was originally intended for a statue of Telangana Talli, a symbol of regional pride.

In response to these objections, Chief Minister Reddy announced that the Telangana Talli statue would be installed within the Secretariat premises on December 9, coinciding with Sonia Gandhi's birthday and marking the anniversary of the announcement for Telangana's formation.

The political tension surrounding this event highlights ongoing rivalries between the Congress party and BRS. BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao has vowed to remove Rajiv Gandhi's statue if his party returns to power, asserting that the installation is an insult to Telangana's identity. In contrast, Reddy emphasizes that honoring Rajiv Gandhi is crucial for recognizing his contributions to India's development, particularly in revolutionizing the telecommunications sector.

As the unveiling approaches, it remains a focal point of political discourse in Telangana, reflecting broader themes of identity and heritage within the state's evolving political landscape.