BJP Leaders Question Telangana Thalli Statue and State Policies
Hyderabad: BJP leaders on Monday raised concerns regarding the newly unveiled Telangana Thalli statue, pointing out the absence of the traditional Bathukamma symbol and the inclusion of the Congress party’s ‘hand’ emblem. They also criticized state officials for allegedly violating protocols.
During a discussion on Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s statement in the Assembly, BJP leader Payal Shankar expressed dissatisfaction over the government’s unilateral decision-making regarding the statue. He argued that all members should have been consulted before finalizing the design. Shankar suggested incorporating Bathukamma, a cultural symbol, into the statue and demanded swift government action on GO 317, which affects government employees. He further alleged that the government was restricting employees from withdrawing funds from their General Provident Fund (GPF).
Another BJP leader, Palvai Harish, questioned the state government’s decision to not officially celebrate Telangana Liberation Day on September 17. He criticized the government for focusing on name changes rather than addressing economic issues. “Telangana has been economically damaged in the past decade, and instead of repair and progress, the government is busy altering names. How does this bring development?” he asked.
Armoor BJP MLA Paidi Rakesh Reddy raised concerns about protocol violations by state officials and claimed that the government ignored appeals made to the privilege committee. He stated, “We are being insulted wherever we go. Funds are being directed to South Telangana, while our backward regions are neglected. Congress candidates who lost elections are being prioritized over elected representatives.”
In response, Legislative Affairs Minister D. Sridhar Babu assured BJP members that a meeting would be arranged to discuss their concerns. Speaker G. Prasad Kumar also addressed the issue, stating that he had spoken to the Chief Secretary and other IAS officials about the protocol violations and promised to take necessary steps to ensure justice.
