HYDERABAD: Intellectuals from different sections of Telangana society have appealed AICC leader Rahul Gandhi to retain Telangana Thalli statue at designated place at Telangana’s secretariat and install Rajiv Gandhi statue at an appropriate place.
They opposed the state government’s decision to install Rajiv Gandhi’s statue in front of Telangana Secretariat, a place meant for Telangana Talli.
The intellectuals including Prof Haragopal, Tankasala Ashok, Allam Narayana, Goreti Venkanna Mallepally Laxmaiah Nandini Sidda Reddy, Ayachitam Sridhar, Deshapathi Srinivas and 20 others in the open letter on Monday saod TelanganaThalli represents the culture, heritage, and pride of the Telangana people. Replacing her statue is not merely an act of removing a monument, but an attempt to erase the identity and indomitable spirit of the Telangana people, who fought for statehood through countless sacrifices.
“ Telangana Talli has symbolized our language, traditions, and the collective memory of our struggles for self-respect and autonomy. It is through her that we celebrate our victories, honor our sacrifices, and inspire future generations to uphold our values, they said.
This concept, once ridiculed and neglected during the time of united Andhra Pradesh, was revived during the second phase of the Statehood agitation for Telangana, the intellectuals said.
In the letter, they said the proposal to install a statue of Rajiv Gandhi, a leader who, while respected in many spheres, does not carry the same cultural and emotional significance for the Telugu people. This proposal is seen by many as an imposition, disregarding the sentiments of those who view Telangana Talli as the embodiment of their identity.
“We believe the statue of Rajiv Gandhi could be installed at another appropriate location. We urge the government to reconsider this decision, which is deeply hurtful and unacceptable to the people of this state.
We believe that respecting the sentiments of the people and preserving our cultural symbols is essential to maintaining the dignity and unity of our society,” they said.