The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Give PV his due: TDP

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 31, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Give PV his due: TDP

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, DEC. 30. Leaders of the Telugu Desam on Thursday demanded that "a statesman and creator of modern India" like former Prime Minister, P.V. Narasimha Rao, be given his due.

Criticising the ruling party for lapses and what they termed "injustice to Telugu prestige" in general, the TDP leaders -- Ummareddy Venkateswarlu, Kotagiri Vidyadhara Rao and S. Venugopalachari -- said it was time the Congress accepted its faults.

They said a number of institutions could be named after P.V. Narasimha Rao because he was a man of stature.

Even in New Delhi, they said, a centre of excellence could be developed and named after the first Telugu Prime Minister.

Sonia flayed

It was up to the Congress to decide how they could honour the name of a man who was not only their party leader, but also one who commanded the respect of one and all.

They criticised the AICC president and chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance, Sonia Gandhi, and others for "denying space for a memorial in New Delhi along the banks of the Yamuna for P.V".

They lashed out at the way P.V's body was kept near the gates of the AICC headquarters and hastily brought to Hyderabad without giving many people a chance to pay their last respects.

At a separate press conference, Telugu Mahila leaders, including Nannappaneni Rajakumari, MLA P. Sujata and Masala Padmaja, recalled that the Telugu Desam was the first to hold a memorial meeting and wear black badges, while postponing all scheduled programmes of the TDP. It was unfortunate that the Congress leaders themselves did not show similar regard for their leader, they said.

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