The Hindu : Tributes paid to N.T. Rama Rao

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 19, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Tributes paid to N.T. Rama Rao

By Our Staff Reporter

The cine actor, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, paying floral tributes to N.T. Rama Rao at NTR Ghat in Hyderabad on Sunday as the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu looks on.

HYDERABAD, JAN. 18. Several programmes were held in the city on Sunday to mark the death anniversary of the Telugu Desam Party's founder president and former Chief Minister, N.T. Rama Rao.

The Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, accompanied by his wife, Bhuvaneswari, placed a wreath at the NTR samadhi at NTR ghat near Tank Bund. They later participated in an all-religion prayer. The Mayor, T. Krishna Reddy, Ministers -- N. Janardhan Reddy and T. Srinivas Yadav -- and the HUDA vice-chairman, Lakshmi Parthasarathi, were present.

The family members of NTR also visited the samadhi to pay their tributes. His sons -- Jayakrishna, Harikrishna and Ramakrishna -- were among the first to go with their wives and children. They all went together.

Later, the former Minister and son-in-law of NTR, Daggubati Venkateswara Rao, and his wife turned up. They were followed by the NTR's grandson and film actor, Tarakaratna.

Lakshmi Parvati, NTR's widow, also visited the samadhi. Even as she was attending the all-religion prayer, the Chief Minister arrived. She left immediately.

Earlier, Mr. Naidu flagged off a procession of vehicles in which a torch (NTR jyothi) was carried from the NTR statue at Rasoolpura to NTR ghat. The programme was organised by the former Sanatnagar MLA, S. Rajeswar. Two former MLAs -- G. Sayanna and Katragada Prasuna -- had an altercation with the police near the statue when they were denied permission to go closer.

The TDP organised a blood donation camp at its party headquarters which was inaugurated by Mr. Naidu. As many as 186 units of blood was collected and donated to the Chiranjeevi Eye and Blood Bank. The donors were covered under an insurance policy for Rs. 25,000 each. A TDP activist, D. Srisailam, formally met Mr. Chiranjeevi to hand over blood.

Party activists also distributed fruits to patients at Basava Tarakam Cancer Hospital and offered lunch to the blind and deaf children at the old party office at Hyderguda.

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